SEATTLE -- Intrigue was high for this weekend's series vs. the division-rival Angels, with the Mariners entering the four-game set in sole possession of the second American League Wild Card spot and prepared to have Edgar Martinez's number retirement ceremony on Saturday.
A total of 159,548 fans, an average of 39,887 each game, flocked to Safeco Field, but the Mariners couldn't deliver, losing 4-2 Sunday to close out the Angels' four-game sweep.
"I think our fans were fired up for the weekend with everything around Martinez and his number being retired," said Mariners manager Scott Servais, whose team is two games back for the second American League Wild Card spot. "Disappointing. I think our fans are with us through thick and thin, and we appreciate that, and we need to play better at home. It hasn't been good in the second half at home, especially."

As frustrating as a four-game sweep can be for a club going for its first playoff berth since 2001, the longest drought in the Majors, the extensive middle tier in the American League provides more than just a glimmer of hope. Eight teams are within the Angels for the final playoff spot in the AL.
"We can't let it become more than [a bad weekend]," third baseman Kyle Seager said. "It was a really bad weekend. It was a shame with all the Edgar stuff going on here for us to come out and not back that up.
"But [not letting it become more] is the name of the game. That's our jobs. We dwell on this and it spirals into a couple of weeks here. Our jobs are to try to turn the page and flip the script as fast as we can."