PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Rangers pounded out 11 hits and 8 runs in an 8-1 victory over the Mariners on Wednesday night about 10 miles down Bell Road.

Nelson Cruz had the biggest bat, mashing two homers and a single for three RBIs. All three hits came on two-strike counts. It's something Cruz has worked on with hitting coach Clint Hurdle, focusing on going the other way once he's down in the count.

It worked on Wednesday. Cruz hit a single to center on a 1-2 count in the first. He then hit a homer to right field on a 1-2 count in the third. Both of those hits were off Mariners starter Ian Snell. He also hit a homer to center off a 2-2 pitch in the fourth.

Last season, Cruz batted just .191 after the count was 1-2. So Wednesday was certainly a good sign. Cruz has also showed some patience this spring with six walks, leading the Rangers going into Wednesday's game. So far, a very solid spring training for Cruz.

BTW, Cruz was hit just below the right wrist in Tuesday's game and said it was tight, but he played through it. He said he could feel it a little throwing and during batting practice, but he wasn't concerned about it.

Other quick game observations:

* RHP Scott Feldman didn't have his best stuff (67 pitches, 33 strikes), starting the game with eight straight balls. But he battled and got out of several jams to go four innings and allow one run on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Feldman said he focused on his off-speed stuff and got a feel for it. More on Feldman's outing here.

* OF Josh Hamilton hit a long home run to right field on the first pitch of his at-bat in the third. It was his second homer of the spring. It was a moon ball, I can tell you. I think it nearly cleared the grass on the hill. That's a long way.

* SS Esteban German had two errors on Monday. He bobbled a ground ball hit to him and couldn't quite catch a throw from 1B Chad Tracy on a throw to start a double play. The throw wasn't right on the money, but German could have caught it.

* 1B Chris Davis bounced back from his three-strikeout night on Tuesday with two hits, including a homer. Davis continues his hot streak at spring training, batting .500 this spring with 8 RBIs. He has eight strikeouts (in 29 at-bats).

* RHP Dustin Nippert continues to impress this spring. He got a three-inning save, in fact, allowing no runs on one hit with four strikeouts and no walks. He faced 12 batters.

Nippert said he was working on his two-seamer and was happy with his curve ball. He thinks his changeup needs some more work.

* LHP Darren Oliver pitched two innings (his pitch counts continue to be low that Washington said the only way to get him some real work is to throw him two innings). He gave up one hit and had two strikeouts.