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Cruz, Seager lead M’s over Rangers

Seattle plays with sense of urgency

By SEAN SHAPIRO, Associated Press
Published: September 14, 2017, 11:04pm
7 Photos
Seattle Mariners' Nelson Cruz (23) is congratulated by Yonder Alonso after Cruz hit a solo home run off Texas Rangers relief pitcher A.J. Griffin during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.
Seattle Mariners' Nelson Cruz (23) is congratulated by Yonder Alonso after Cruz hit a solo home run off Texas Rangers relief pitcher A.J. Griffin during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) Photo Gallery

ARLINGTON, Texas — Time is starting to run out in the AL wild card race.

The Seattle Mariners got a bit of a boost with the return of Felix Hernandez in a 10-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Thursday night that extended a three-game win streak.

“After losing the first game of the series here, kind of regrouping, understanding where we were at was important,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “I thought our urgency, our intensity level was right on point the last three nights.”

Nelson Cruz went 4 for 4 with a home run and Kyle Seager hit a two-run homer as Seattle remained 3 1/2 games behind Minnesota for the second AL wild card with 15 games remaining.

“It’s exciting to see everybody, not only with the patience that we go up there and battle,” Cruz said. “It’s nice to see everybody on the same page.”

Texas entered the game one-half game behind Seattle in the wild card race and fielded a surprise lineup looking for a spark from injured veterans Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli.

One night after making an unexpected appearance as a pinch hitter Beltre was batting fourth as the designated hitter. This was just two weeks after suffering a Grade 2 strain in his hamstring and he was expected to miss at least four weeks, likely the remainder of the season.

Hernandez made his first start since being put on the disabled list with right shoulder bursitis on Aug. 5. He was on a pitch count and threw 54 pitches, allowing three hits and striking out three in 3 2/3 innings.

“It was good, man. It was fun,” Hernandez said. “Didn’t try to do too much, trying to get through 50 pitches, out there as long as I can.”

Andrew Albers (5-1) pitched the final five innings and allowed three hits.

Hernandez had an early lead to work with when Seager hit a two-run home run in the second. Three innings later Yonder Alonso hit a bases-loaded double to give the Mariners a 5-1 lead.

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