Playoff Bound! Texas Rangers Return to Postseason by Beating Seattle Mariners

The Texas Rangers clinched their first playoff berth since 2016 by ending a two-game losing streak at the Seattle Mariners.

The playoff drought is finally over for the Texas Rangers.

After a pair of anxious nights, the Rangers (90-71) beat the Seattle Mariners 6-1 on Saturday night at T-Mobile Park to clinch at least one of the final two American League Wild Card spots and return to the postseason for the first time since 2016.

The Rangers were 68-94 last season. Now they’re on the verge of division crown.

“We’re going to celebrate tonight,” Corey Seager said. “Coming from a 100-loss season, this is pretty special moment for us, but there’s still more to come.”

Andrew Heaney pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings as the Rangers clinched a playoff berth / © Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports

The Rangers can claim the AL West title with a win in Sunday's regular-season finale or with a Houston Astros loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Astros (89-72) won Saturday to clinch a berth and eliminate Seattle.

Houston would win the division with a win and Texas loss.

The Rangers scored four in the third on two-out RBI singles by Nathaniel Lowe, Jonah Heim and Leody Taveras against Mariners All-Star starter Luis Castillo. The Mariners (87-74) were forced to bring in Matt Brash to get the final out in the third. Texas added a run in the fourth to make it 5-0.

Andrew Heaney, starting in place of the injured Jon Gray, held the Mariners scoreless on five hits over 4 1/3 innings. The Texas bullpen held Seattle in check to end a two-game losing streak that mirrored the start of the series.

But the Rangers did not focus on the losses that put their playoff destiny in doubt.

“We were never thinking about it,” Seager said. “We knew what we needed to do to get and we did it. That’s all that really matters right now.”

Should the Rangers lock down the division, it comes with a bye to the AL Division Series. Texas would avoid the Wild Card round.

The Rangers clinched the ninth postseason appearance in franchise his­tory, joining clubs from 1996, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016. Seven of the prior eight instances were American League West titles, with the lone Wild Card appearance coming in 2012. Texas also played a one-game Wild Card tiebreaker in 2013 and lost.

The Rangers earned their postseason trip by getting hot at the right time, going an AL-best 14-7 since Sept. 9.

Rangers 6, Mariners 1

Highlights from the Rangers-Mariners game Saturday night:

Heaney Steps In

Andrew Heaney, who’s been in the bullpen for most of the month, returned to a starting role and came up big in the absence of Jon Gray, making it into the fifth inning without allowing a run.

The much-maligned Rangers bullpen took it from there, as the trio of Josh Sborz, Cody Bradford and José Leclerc allowed only one run over the final 4 2/3 innings.

Two Outs, No Problem

The Rangers took control with a four-run third inning. Marcus Semien opened the frame with a walk before Seattle starter Luis Castillo got two outs.

Adolis García followed with an infield single, opening the floodgates. Nathaniel Lowe had a run-scoring single to score Semien. Josh Jung walked to load the bases, setting up Johan Heim for a two-run single. Leody Taveras’ single plated Jung to complete the uprising that put Texas in the driver’s seat.

Up Next

The Rangers and Mariners end the regular season at 2:10 p.m. CT. The Rangers are expected to start Dane Dunning (12-6, 3.72) on three days’ rest, while Seattle is going with right-hander George Kirby (12-10, 3.46).

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