The Seattle Mariners' season came to an end Sunday in the same manner in which it started, as outfielder Seth Smith sparked the offense.
With two outs in the eighth inning, Smith delivered a solo homer to send the Mariners to a 3-2 win over the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field.
Listening to long-time Mariners play-by-play announcer Rick Rizzs on the radio, you’d have thought the Mariners had just clinched a spot in the postseason. His voice rose as he described the baseball easily clearing the center-field wall.
Of course, reality dictated the Mariners didn’t make the postseason for the 14th consecutive year, longest drought in the major leagues.