OAKLAND, Calif. – The road trip started with a disappointing series loss against a team they’ve dominated the last three seasons, and it ended in the cloudless Sunday sunshine of the Bay Area with another series loss against a team they’ve owned for the last two seasons.

OAKLAND, Calif. – All of the things that have made the Mariners successful this season – solid starting pitching, quality defense, sound baserunning and just enough timely hitting – were mostly absent on Saturday afternoon.

SEATTLE – Rebuilds gone astray have repercussions. Just look at the Detroit Tigers, who are in the midst of their sixth consecutive losing season, 30 games under .500 entering the weekend, burdened by a historically inept offense (3.16 runs per game).

OAKLAND, Calif. – Even though he joyfully celebrated the Mariners’ memorable 1-0 win over the Yankees in 13 innings at T-Mobile Park, the frustration of not contributing more in the game, particularly striking out with two outs and the bases loaded in the 12th inning, burned inside of him.

SEATTLE – Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis, the former American League Rookie of the Year, was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Aug. 10 but has yet to be appear in a game or be placed on the lineup card for the Rainiers.

From flailing to formidable, from falling apart to the first wild card spot, from another frustrating team failing to live up to expectations to perhaps finally reaching the postseason again, the Mariners’ journey from the forgettable first months of the season to Wednesday’s 11-7 drubbing of the Angels defies typical baseball logic.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The milestone had meaning even when he tried to hide it at first and credit others for what he’d achieved.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The versions of the adage come in different forms depending on the manager at the time.

ARLINGTON, Texas – After losing their last nine games against them and 10 of the 12 meetings this season, the Texas Rangers finally found a way to beat the Seattle Mariners, prevailing 7-4.

ARLINGTON, Texas — The results didn’t come immediately. At times, the familiar failures with runners in scoring position were anguishing. But with each extended plate appearance, dragging past six pitches, forcing the Rangers to roll out reliever after reliever — none of them exceptional — a Mariners’ lineup restored to full strength eventually provided the production to match the potential.

ARLINGTON, Texas — The screams of “Julio! Julio!” filled the air of Globe Life Field as the Mariners’ man-child of a rookie jogged on to the field for pregame workout.