Nelson Cruz reached 40 home runs for the second straight season, Felix Hernandez pitched three-hit ball for eight innings, and the Mariners downed the Texas Rangers, 5-0, in Seattle on Thursday.
The Rangers were shut out for the second straight day. Their lead for the second American League wild-card spot was cut to one game over idle Minnesota, and they fell two and a half games behind idle Houston for the A.L. West lead.
Cruz matched his career high for homers set last season with Baltimore, connecting for a two-run shot in a three-run seventh.