JARRED KELENIC

The Seattle Mariners believe snapping their 21-year playoff drought is only the beginning.

Abraham Toro homered and drove in four runs, Cal Raleigh hit his 27th long ball of the season and the Seattle Mariners beat the Detroit Tigers 9-6 to complete a sweep of their doubleheader.

SEATTLE — (AP) — Mitch Haniger and Jarred Kelenic both homered twice, J.P. Crawford singled home the winning run in the 11th inning and the Seattle Mariners closed in on their first playoff berth in 21 years by beating the Texas Rangers 10-9 Thursday night. The Mariners moved a half-game ahead of Tampa Bay for the second of three AL wild cards and reduced their magic number to one for clinching a postseason spot. One more win or a Baltimore loss would give Seattle its first playoff appearance since 2001, ending the longest drought in the four major North American professional sports. The Mariners are 1 1/2 games behind Toronto for the top wild card, which hosts a best-of-three series beginning Oct. 7. The other two wild cards play on the road.

Mitch Haniger and Jarred Kelenic both homered twice, J.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez, a leading candidate for the AL Rookie of the Year award, has been put on the 10-day injured list because of a lower back strain.

Luis Castillo pitched five-hit ball into the seventh inning in his Seattle debut, and the Mariners used a fast start to beat Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees 7-3.

Seattle star rookie Julio Rodríguez was placed on the injured list with a bruised right wrist Sunday after being hit by a pitch a night before.

Hunter Greene has a chance to stand out in this era of triple-digit fastballs and high strikeout totals.

Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and Detroit Tigers infielder Spencer Torkelson are among baseball's most intriguing rookies this summer.

Jose Suarez threw five strong innings, Brandon Marsh accounted for all the offense with a two-run double, and the Los Angeles Angels landed a major blow to Seattle’s postseason hopes by beating the Mariners 2-1.

The Seattle Mariners won for the 10th time in 11 games and stayed in the thick of the AL wild-card race with a 4-2 win over the Oakland Athletics.

Jarred Kelenic stood outside the Seattle Mariners dugout with the crowd roaring and holding a placard with a phrase borrowed from a popular television show. “Believe” has become Seattle's rallying call, and the Mariners are charging into the final weekend of the regular season with plenty of belief and right in the thick of the AL wild-card race. The Mariners won for the 10th time in 11 games beating the Oakland Athletics 4-2 on Wednesday night, keeping the pressure on their fellow competitors for the two wild-card spots in the AL.

(AP Photo/Jason Redmond) (Jason Redmond)A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:___CALL 'EM UPMajor League Baseball teams can now expand their rosters, but there's something different about September call-ups this season — clubs can add just two players. Even before COVID-19 altered and shortened the 2020 season to only 60 games, MLB had decided to reduce the September call-ups while adding a 26th player to the roster fulltime last year. The 29-year-old DeShields was with Boston’s Triple-A team in Worcester and assigned to the Reds’ top minor league team in Louisville. DeShields has six years of big league experience. He’s 43-31 with 126 saves and a 3.70 ERA over 11 big league seasons.

Major League Baseball teams can now expand their rosters, but there’s something different about September call-ups this season — clubs can add just two players.

Mariners Athletics Baseball Seattle Mariners' Abraham Toro, left, celebrates with Kyle Seager after both scored on a two-run single by Luis Torrens during the third inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. Luis Torrens hit a tiebreaking two-run single, Chris Flexen stayed solid into the seventh inning and Seattle swept a two-game series against the Oakland Athletics with a 5-1 win Tuesday. “Somebody just told me our run differential was minus-nine on this trip but our fun differential was about plus-90,” Servais said, smiling. Mitch Moreland hit an RBI single for Oakland in the first before Jarred Kelenic tied it at 1 with a single of his own in the second. Elvis Andrus hit a two-out double in the seventh and Mark Canha walked to chase Flexen, but Oakland came up empty.

Luis Torrens hit a tiebreaking two-run single, Chris Flexen pitched neatly into the seventh inning and the Seattle Mariners swept a quick two-game series against the Oakland Athletics with a 5-1 win.

The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 6-5 in 10 innings. Jordan Montgomery (3-1, 3.92 ERA) pitches the opener at Minnesota against former Yankees righty Michael Pineda (3-3, 3.40). Bieber (6-3, 3.08 ERA) has struck out 117 in 79 innings after winning the AL Cy Young Award last season. In a strange scene, the netting that also covers both dugouts suddenly sagged during Sunday’s game between Philadelphia and Washington. TRY AGAINArizona aims to end its 17-game road losing streak when Jon Duplantier (0-1, 9.35 ERA) starts at Oakland.

Slumping DJ LeMahieu and the skidding Yankees hope to get back on target when they start a set at Target Field against the Twins on Tuesday night.

APTOPIX Indians Mariners Baseball Seattle Mariners' Jarred Kelenic reacts to the home run of Mitch Haniger as he heads in to score against the Cleveland Indians during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, May 14, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) (Elaine Thompson)SEATTLE — (AP) — Prized prospect Jarred Kelenic made his first major league hit memorable with a two-run homer and later added a pair of doubles, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 7-3 win over the Cleveland Indians on Friday night. The 21-year-old Kelenic became the youngest Mariners player to homer since Adam Jones in 2006 and joined Lewis in hitting a home run for their first major league hits. MORE ON KELENICKelenic became the fifth player in Mariners history with three or more hits in his first two career games, and the first since Carlos Guillén in 1998. Kelenic also is the 18th player in baseball history with three or more extra-base hits in his first two career games.

Prized prospect Jarred Kelenic made his first major league hit memorable with a two-run homer and later added a pair of doubles, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 7-3 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Indians Mariners Baseball Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Zach Plesac throws to a Seattle Mariners batter during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 13, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) (Elaine Thompson)SEATTLE — (AP) — Zach Plesac came within six outs of ending Cleveland’s 40-year no-hitter drought, keeping the Seattle Mariners hitless into the eighth inning of the Indians’ 4-2 win on Thursday night. The anticipated debuts of Seattle prospects Jarred Kelenic and Logan Gilbert were overshadowed by a masterful pitching performance by Plesac. While he wasn’t overpowering, Plesac managed to induce weak contact for most of the first seven innings. Civale has thrown at least seven innings in four of his seven starts, including his last against Cincinnati when he allowed only one run.

Zach Plesac came within six outs of ending Cleveland’s 40-year no-hitter drought, keeping the Seattle Mariners hitless into the eighth inning of the Indians’ 4-2 win.

Mariners Kelenic Gilbert Baseball FILE - Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert throws against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning during a spring training baseball game in Peoria, Ariz., in this Tuesday, March 10, 2020, file photo. The Seattle Mariners’ future arrives Thursday, May 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File) (Elaine Thompson)SEATTLE — (AP) — The anticipated major league debuts of outfielder Jarred Kelenic and pitcher Logan Gilbert are part of a big roster reshuffling for the Seattle Mariners. Trammell made his major league debut on opening day, but is batting .157 in 27 games. Manager Scott Servais said Trammell needs more playing time and expects he'll be back with the major league club at some point.

The major league debuts of outfielder Jarred Kelenic and pitcher Logan Gilbert are part of a major roster reshuffling for the Seattle Mariners.

Where do Jarred Kelenic, Wander Franco, Nate Pearson and other top players stand as minor league baseball teams begin their season?

—INF Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates: Hayes, 24, provided some hope for lowly Pittsburgh in September, batting .376 with five homers in 24 games. The slick-fielding son of former big league infielder Charlie Hayes was selected by the Pirates in the first round of the 2015 amateur draft. 6 pick in the 2018 amateur draft batted .291 with 23 homers over three minor league stops in 2019. —OF Ryan Mountcastle, Baltimore Orioles: Mountcastle made his major league debut on Aug. 21 and batted .333 with five homers and 23 RBIs in 35 games. Kim batted .306 with 30 homers, 109 RBIs and 23 steals for the KBO League's Kiwoom Heroes last season.

Seattle Mariners Jarred Kelenic fields an RBI double by Cleveland Indians' Josh Naylor during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)PEORIA, Ariz. – Seattle Mariners top prospect Jarred Kelenic will be sidelined due to a strained adductor muscle in his left knee. “While disappointed that Jarred will be sidelined, we are relieved that the long-term outlook is positive,” Dipoto said. The 21-year-old Kelenic, who hit Seattle’s first home run of spring training earlier this week against the Cubs, has been the center of attention during spring training. AdKelenic and his agent lashed out at the Mariners in comments made to USA Today following Mather’s resignation last month. After homering earlier this week Kelenic said he’s using those words as motivation.