SEATTLE – Gary Matthews homered with two outs in the ninth inning Saturday, leading the Texas Rangers over the Seattle Mariners 6-5 for their fourth straight victory.

The Rangers, who lead the majors with 133 home runs, also got a three-run shot from Michael Young in the second and a solo shot from David Dellucci – his third homer in three games – in the fourth.

Adrian Beltre had his first two-homer game since joining the Mariners, but struck out against rookie Kameron Loe (2-1) with the game tied and two men on to end the seventh.

J.J. Putz (1-3), who came in with two outs in the eighth, gave up the home run to Matthews as Seattle matched a season high with its seventh straight loss.

Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 19th save in 23 opportunities.

Dellucci homered for a 5-4 lead, but Beltre answered with a solo shot into the left-field bullpen in the fifth. It was his first multihomer game since Sept. 21 for the Dodgers against San Diego.

In 12 games since returning from a tight left hamstring, Beltre is hitting .360 (18-for-50) with three home runs and nine RBIs, raising his average 20 points to .264

Mariners starter Joel Pineiro needed 30 pitches, including three 3-2 counts, just to get out of the first inning. The Rangers scored only once, on Hank Blalock’s single through the right side just past the diving Richie Sexson. Kevin Mench left the bases loaded when he swung through a 3-2 outside fastball.

C.J. Wilson, in his third major league start, also struggled in the first. He threw 26 pitches and walked three, including Raul Ibanez with the bases loaded.

Rod Barajas began the Rangers’ three-run second with a one-out walk. Dellucci singled and Young followed with a homer on the first pitch for a 4-1 lead.

The Mariners tied it in the third. Ichiro Suzuki singled and scored on Randy Winn’s double off the left-center wall. Beltre followed with a two-run shot to right.

Notes: This was the 38th game in which the Rangers have had multiple home runs. … The Mariners play just seven times at home over a 26-game period from June 24 through July 24. … Kenny Rogers, suspended Friday for 20 days after a confrontation with a cameraman, will start Sunday for the Rangers while he’s appealing. John Wasdin, who would have started in Rogers’ place, worked in relief Saturday. … Pineiro is 5-0 in seven games against the Rangers.

AP-ES-07-02-05 1932EDT