Ichiro Suzuki, who had three hits to raise his major leagues-leading average to .361, opened the eighth with a single off C.J. Wilson (4-4). After two outs, Ken Griffey. Jr. walked and Gutierrez launched a 1-0 fastball into the bleachers in center field.
Felix Hernandez (9-3), heading to his first All-Star Game, went eight innings, allowing one run and three hits, striking out seven batters and walking two.
David Aardsma worked the ninth for his 18th save in 20 opportunities.
Rangers rookie Tommy Hunter, making his seventh major league start, went six innings, allowing four hits, walking three and striking out four.
The Mariners got a runner to second base three times against Hunter, but couldn’t advance any of them. Their biggest threat was in the second when Griffey opened with a walk and Gutierrez singled, extending his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games. Ryan Langerhans lined out to right, Chris Woodward struck out and Rob Johnson bounced out.
Hernandez ran into his only trouble in the sixth. He retired the first two batters on three pitches, then Ian Kinsler walked and Michael Young singled to center. On a 2-2 pitch to Josh Hamilton, they pulled off a double steal. On the next pitch, Hernandez’s fastball skipped into the dirt and off catcher Rob Johnson’s glove, allowing Kinsler to score.
