If the Texas Rangers wanted to see where they stood against the defending American League West Division champion Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night, then they more than held their own.

The Rangers watched starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi work six stellar innings at Globe Life Field, while catcher Kyle Higashioka hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth inning. It all added up to a 3-2 Rangers victory over the Mariners.

Eovaldi gave up six hits and two earned runs, walked two, and struck out seven. 

Brendan Donovan gave the Mariners an early 1-0 lead with a solo home run off of Eovaldi in the first inning. That might have been a cue in other years that the Rangers might not be in the mindset to fight back.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker has been quite clear about getting the mindset and attitude of his players in the right direction. Those fans in attendance on Tuesday night might also have been wondering if the Rangers would have what it takes to rally.

Not only did they rally, but they took the lead with a three-run fifth inning. Texas went into the home half of the fifth down 2-0. The Rangers put on their big-boy pants and decided to take control of the game.

Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby, one of baseball's best starters in recent seasons, was still working in the fifth inning. After Texas scored a run in their half of the fifth, Higashioka stepped into the batter's box with a teammate on base.

Higashioka connected with a Kirby offering and sent it over the wall. The Rangers went up 3-2 and never relinquished the lead at all.

Jacob Latz followed Eovaldi and worked the seventh and eighth innings. Then, Jakob Junis came on in the ninth inning and shut the Mariners down. Junis picked up his second save of the season.

With the victory, the Rangers now go to 6-5 overall, 2-3 in games at Globe Life Field. For the Mariners, the road had not been a good place to be early in the season. Seattle falls to 4-8 overall, 1-4 away from T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

The Mariners and Rangers will wrap up this three-game series on Wednesday afternoon.

Then, Texas heads out for a road trip, where they'll make a stop in the City of Angels for a three-game series against the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Texas then goes to Sacramento, Calif., for a four-game series against the Athletics.

The Rangers wrap up their road trip with another three-game series against the Mariners, this time in Seattle.

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