M's lose in Texas, but '18 road record is 5th best

ARLINGTON -- A day after being mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, the math didn't add up well again on Sunday for the Mariners as they dropped a 6-1 decision to the Rangers in their final road game of the year.
After scoring a season-high 13 runs in a runaway shutout victory on Saturday, the Mariners managed just six hits and a lone run while going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Rangers racked up four runs on five hits and a walk in the sixth inning and added a Joey Gallo blast in the eighth to pull out the series finale.
Robinson Cano continued his recent tear by going 2-for-4 to raise his average to .304, but Seattle's only run came on an RBI double by Guillermo Heredia in the third.
The Mariners finished their 10-game road trip with a 6-4 record, putting their final road record at 44-37, tied for their fifth-best mark in the franchise's 42-year history.
"I think we've swung the bat better on the road than at home," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "I've often said, you've got to hit on the road to win. Obviously that's what we didn't do enough of today. But overall this season, we've had some good trips and series on the road. It just hasn't been enough."

The Mariners averaged 4.7 runs per game on the road while posting a .265/.326/.423 line this year, compared with 3.6 runs with a .243/.320/.413 line so far at Safeco Field.
Seattle concludes its season with seven games at home this coming week, with a chance to build on an 85-70 record that has been sullied considerably by a 29-38 tally since July 5 that allowed Oakland to leapfrog into the second American League Wild Card spot.

Wade LeBlanc sailed through five scoreless innings before giving up three runs -- and the lead -- in the sixth. The 34-year-old fell to 8-5 with a 3.55 ERA with the loss, allowing eight hits and the three runs in five-plus frames.
"You feel pretty good about where you're at as far as execution, then you make a few mistakes and good hitters make you pay quick," LeBlanc said.

LeBlanc has posted a 1.83 ERA over his last six starts, but gone 1-2 in that stretch while not getting a lot of offensive help.
"Wade threw the ball pretty well. He navigated his way through some traffic to put five zeros up there and we were in a pretty good spot," Servais said. "We didn't give him much wiggle room offensively, didn't do obviously a ton today or get many hits with runners in scoring position. Then that sixth inning got away from us."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Playing what likely will be his last game for the Rangers at Globe Life Park, Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre was taken out by interim manager Don Wakamatsu after going out to his defensive position in the top of the sixth inning.
The former Mariner exchanged hugs with his Texas teammates as he walked slowly off the field and acknowledged a standing ovation from the crowd, while the Mariners all stood as well at the top rail of their dugout in appreciation.

"There are some moments that are just bigger than others and that was definitely one of them," said Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager. "There's a few guys in the league that just have the respect of every single person on the team, no matter what you've done or how long you've been around. Some guys are just unbelievably respected in this game and he's certainly one of them for all that he's accomplished and how hard he's worked."
SOUND SMART
Cano has gone 13-for-19 with five doubles, a home run and seven RBIs over his last five games, hiking his average from .277 to .304.
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Utility man Kristopher Negron, acquired by the Mariners at the end of August, continued making the most of his limited opportunities by playing well in his first start in right field. With Mitch Haniger getting his first day off since July 5, Negron made an excellent running catch of a drive into the right-center gap by Jurickson Profar for the final out in the fifth. He also threw out Profar in the first after the Rangers second baseman rounded second too aggressively following a single by Elvis Andrus.

"Kris continues to play well," Servais said. "He made a nice throw behind Profar to pick up the out at second and he made a nice running catch in the gap. He's a good athlete. He can throw and he did a nice job in the batter's box as well. He'll continue to get opportunities as we get a chance to look at guys in the last homestand."
UP NEXT
Left-hander James Paxton (11-6, 3.83 ERA) returns after missing two starts with pneumonia and will face A's lefty Brett Anderson (4-5, 3.96 ERA) in Monday's 7:10 p.m. PT game at Safeco as the Mariners open their final homestand of the year. He's 4-0 with a 3.70 ERA in nine career starts against the A's and has faced them two of his last three outings, including an Aug. 14 game when he got knocked out in the first inning when his left arm was hit by a line drive.