Heading into the season, one of the biggest question marks for the Texas Rangers was their bullpen. Specifically in the closer role where Joe Nathan took over for Neftali Feliz.

And after just six games, things haven’t cleared up a bit.

Not after Wednesday night, anyway, after Nathan surrendered three runs in the ninth inning to the Seattle Mariners, blowing his second save of the season. It spoiled what was another stellar night on the mound by a Rangers’ starter.

Colby Lewis went 6 2/3s scoreless innings with six strikeouts. The Rangers had held the Mariners scoreless through 23 innings dating back to Monday’s series opener before Nathan’s botched save, and had won each of the last seven meetings.

”The only thing that I could see is they hit a lot of sliders, not terrible sliders. I think they’re looking for that pitch and waiting for it,” Nathan told the Associated Press. ”A lot of those pitches were sliders down that they served into right and found outfield turf. Credit to them putting good swings on.”

At 4-2, Texas looks to start a new against the Mariners Thursday night in the third game of a four-game set. The Rangers are favored to rebound, according to Bovada’s MLB Betting Lines, as a 1 1/2-run favorite. Bovada also lists a -245 moneyline on the Rangers

The bullpen issues are even more frustrating considering the dominance shown by the Rangers’ starters, throwing shutouts in three of the last four games. Derek Holland gets the start tonight hoping to build on a great performance last time he faced the Mariners. The lefty tossed a five-hit shutout last July 14, striking out eight.

Holland is historically good against Seattle, going 5-1 lifetime with a 3.17 ERA.

But these aren’t the same Mariners as last year. The team that scored fewer runs than any club in 2011 is off to a good start offensively. At 4-3, they’re averaging four runs a game with Ichiro Suzuki hitting lower in the order, and second baseman has been an offensive spark with a homer, four runs scored and four RBI.

That’s something Texas knows about. Second baseman Ian Kinsler is tied for the American League lead with three home runs. Nelson Cruz has five hits off Seattle starter Jason Vargas, three of them home runs.