Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Josh Hamilton's two-run homer in the top of the ninth lifted Texas over Seattle, 5-4, in the middle test of a season-opening three-game series at Safeco Field.

Hamilton drove a belt-high fastball over the wall in right, making a winner out of Joaquin Benoit (1-0), who allowed three runs -- two earned -- in the eighth inning for the Rangers. C.J. Wilson nailed down the save in the ninth.

Hamilton, David Murphy and Hank Blalock each had two hits apiece for Texas, which evened the series after dropping the opener. Murphy also drove in a run and scored one, while Vincente Padilla lasted six innings in the start. He yielded one run on eight hits, walked three and fanned four.

Ichiro Suzuki had three hits and knocked in a run for Seattle, but grounded out with a runner on second to end the game. Yuniesky Betancourt also went 4- for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

J.J. Putz (0-1) was charged with the loss and the blown save, allowing two runs on two hits in the ninth. It wasted a strong outing by starter Felix Hernandez, who tossed seven innings of one-run ball.

With the game knotted at one, Texas pulled ahead with two runs in the eighth. Hamilton's leadoff single was followed by Blalock's double to right. Hamilton scurried home on Milton Bradley's sacrifice fly, and after pinch-hitter Marlon Byrd flied out to right, Murphy's two bagger scored Blalock to make it 3-1.

The Mariners came right back, though, as Benoit unraveled on the mound behind a shaky defense. Jose Vidro reached on a error by Michael Young to kick things off, and Kenji Johjima followed with a hit to plant runners at the corners. Betancourt poked a ball through the right side, cutting it to 3-2, and Suzuki reached on Ian Kinsler's fielding error, scoring the tying run.

The damage wasn't done, as Jose Lopez was retired on a sacrifice bunt. Raul Ibanez was then intentionally walked and Richie Sexson struck out swinging, but Benoit uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Betancourt to cross the plate.

Seattle called on Putz to close it out, but he allowed a seeing-eye single to Kinsler before fanning Young. Hamilton then stepped in and belted the first pitch he saw over the wall in right, giving Texas a 5-4 lead.

Seattle pushed across the game's first run in the bottom of the second, as Vidro singled with one out, stole second and scored on Johjima's base hit to left.

Texas pulled even in the third, though, thanks to a defensive lapse by Hernandez. Murphy ripped a leadoff single to center, and Gerald Laird followed with a sacrifice bunt back to the mound. The pitcher fielded the ball cleanly, but threw it away, putting runners at second and third before a Ben Broussard ground out allowed Murphy to cross the plate.