The Seattle Mariners aren’t off to a great start, but their primary offseason acquisition is doing everything he can to turn their fortunes around.

Nelson Cruz added two more home runs and a walk-off hit to his ledger as the Mariners rallied to take the rubber game of their series with the Texas Rangers and improve to 5-7 this season.

Most HR, First 12 Team Games Mike Schmidt 1976 Phillies 11 Larry Walker 1997 Rockies 9 Luis Gonzalez 2001 Diamondbacks 9 Nelson Cruz 2015 Mariners 8 Alex Rodriguez 2007 Yankees 8 Chris Shelton 2006 Tigers 8 Albert Pujols 2006 Cardinals 8 Jeff Kent 1994 Mets 8 Willie Mays 1964 Giants 8 Johnny Mize 1947 Giants 8

Cruz has six walk-off hits in his career. The other five were with the Rangers.

Cruz has eight home runs through 12 games, tied for the fourth-most through a team’s first dozen games in major-league history. He’s the first player with that many through 12 team games since Alex Rodriguez had eight in 12 games for the 2007 Yankees.

How he’s hitting them

In short, Cruz is hitting everything. His first-inning homer was his sixth hit on a pitch out of the strike zone this season. He has almost as many hits as he has outs (8) against pitches out of the strike zone this season. His two home runs against out of zone pitches are already half as many as he had last season.

The home run came on a pitch just below the bottom of the strike zone, the fourth time this season he’s hit a homer on a pitch in the lower third or below. Last season, nine of Cruz’s 40 home runs came on a pitch to that spot.

That the Mariners and Cruz did any damage against Neftali Feliz was noteworthy. Feliz entered with a 27-inning scoreless streak against them.

The home runs may keep coming for Cruz The Mariners next face the Astros beginning Monday night in Seattle. Cruz is hitting .322 with 14 home runs in 149 career at bats against the Astros.

Did you know?

Cruz’s eight home runs are more than the Indians (7), Marlins (7), Phillies (6), Cardinals (6) and Brewers (3) have hit all season.