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TEX@SEA: Smoak crushes a solo homer to right

SEATTLE -- In case the Texas Rangers forgot what they gave up in the Cliff Lee deal last July, Justin Smoak delivered a strong reminder Thursday as the Mariners' first baseman ripped his fifth home run of the season in a 3-1 victory over his former team.

The 24-year-old Smoak continued his recent tear with a leadoff home run in the second inning and later launched a mammoth double to center field as he raised his batting average to .315 with a 3-for-4 night.

Since returning from bereavement leave on April 26, the youngster has gone 12-for-34 (.353) with three home runs and 13 RBIs in nine games to put some punch into the middle of the Mariners' batting order.

Smoak's run has coincided with a rapid rise by the Mariners, who have won seven of their past nine games -- and three straight series -- to pull back into the picture in the American League West at 15-17.

Mariners left-hander Jason Vargas was the beneficiary of Smoak's support, earning his second straight victory after snapping a 13-game winless streak on Friday in Boston.

Vargas kept the Rangers scoreless for seven innings before finally getting touched for a run in the eighth, departing with a 3-1 lead as Jamey Wright came in to get the final out of that inning with a runner on third. Brandon League then came on to record his ninth straight save in the ninth.

The 7 2/3 innings of work equaled Vargas' longest start since joining the Mariners in 2009 and evened his record at 2-2 on the season with a 4.68 ERA. His only longer stint in his career was a nine-inning effort against the Dodgers during his rookie season with the Florida Marlins in '05.

Vargas was helped by a nice diving stop by second baseman Jack Wilson on a Julio Borbon ground ball in the fifth, squelching any trouble there after Mitch Moreland had singled with one out.

But the lefty did most of the work on his own, getting a pair of double-play grounders and maneuvering through the Rangers' lineup on six hits with only one baserunner reaching third until Ian Kinsler doubled home Borbon in the eighth.

Besides Smoak's long ball, the Mariners added a run in the third when Brendan Ryan ripped a double down the third-base line under the glove of a diving Adrian Beltre and scored on a double by Luis Rodriguez.

Rodriguez started at third base in place of Chone Figgins, who was scratched from the lineup prior to the game due to a stomach illness.

Ichiro Suzuki then added an insurance run in the seventh with a base hit to left to score Wilson.

Greg Johns is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregJohnsMLB as well as his Mariners Musings blog. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.