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Seattle Mariners

Mariners eliminated from playoff race despite 13-0 rout of Rangers

Seattle’s Robinson Cano watches the flight of his three-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning Saturday in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth / AP)
Seattle’s Robinson Cano watches the flight of his three-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning Saturday in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth / AP)
Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas – Robinson Cano broke a scoreless tie with a three-run homer in the fifth inning while Marco Gonzales allowed one hit over six innings, but the Seattle Mariners were eliminated from postseason contention despite a 13-0 rout of the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.

The longest playoff drought among the four major pro sports was extended to 17 years when Oakland beat Minnesota 3-2 about an hour after the Seattle win, eliminating the Mariners from the A.L. wild-card race.

Seattle, which was in contention well into August, inherited the longest postseason absence last December when Buffalo made the NFL playoffs.

Gonzales (13-9) faced one batter over the minimum while allowing his fewest hits in 42 career starts for his first win since July 29. The left-hander walked one and got a double play grounder from Jurickson Profar right after allowing a single to Delino DeShields.

Mike Zunino connected for his 20th homer, a solo shot in the sixth as the Mariners topped their previous season high of 12 runs. Cano, who added an RBI double and had three hits, has nine homers – five since returning from an 80-game drug suspension Aug. 14.

Dee Gordon connected for his third homer, a two-run shot in the eighth off Bartolo Colon in the 45-year-old’s fourth relief appearance to go with 24 starts. Mitch Haniger extended his hitting streak to 11 games with three hits and scored three runs.

Mike Minor (12-8) allowed six hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings with three walks and four strikeouts for the last-place Rangers, who matched their largest losing margin in their 11th loss in 15 games.