The Seattle Mariners got a rare day off on the road Thursday. And they needed it.
The Mariners have lost three in a row and five of six on their nine- game trip that concludes with a three-game series at the Atlanta Braves, beginning Friday.
The skid dropped the Mariners four games behind Houston in the American League West race entering Thursday and slimmed their lead over Texas for the AL's third and final wild-card berth to 1 1/2 games.