SEATTLE -- August came to a merciful end for the Mariners on Wednesday as they limped home from a road trip that dented their psyche a bit, not to mention their playoff hopes. But as the calendar turns to September, the Mariners are hoping to reignite a run for an American League Wild Card berth.
With 29 of the season's 162 games remaining, the Mariners know one thing: They still have a puncher's chance. They can still make some noise. They still have a shot at ending Major League Baseball's longest playoff drought and getting the franchise to the postseason for the first time since 2001 if they take advantage of a favorable schedule and put together another hot streak down the stretch.