Robinson Cano homered during a five-run first inning, the Mariners knocked out starter Cole Hamels early and then Seattle pulled away with a six-run sixth inning in a 14-6 win over the AL West-leading Texas Rangers on Monday.

Albert Pujols and C.J. Cron hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning and six relievers combined to shut down Seattle after starter Matt Shoemaker was hit in the head with a line drive, leading the Los Angeles Angels over the Mariners 4-2 on Sunday.

Taijuan Walker’s season, which began with such promise, continued its downward spiral Saturday when he failed to make it through the first inning of the Mariners’ 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

It seems strange that the Mariners’ formula for beating the Los Angeles Angels at Safeco Field starts with serving up a three-run homer to Mike Trout in the first inning.

Following Wednesday’s trade that netted outfielder Ben Gamel, general manager Jerry Dipoto said the Mariners wanted to “see where he’s at in September and gauge what that means for 2017.”

On Thursday — a needed off day — the Mariners had a 68-65 record and were four games out of the wild card with the Red Sox, Tigers, Orioles, Astros, Yankees and Royals before them.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Rougned Odor homered twice a day after hitting a game-ending shot and Carlos Gomez connected for a grand slam off Felix Hernandez, sending the Texas Rangers to a 14-1 romp over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday for a three-game sweep. Odor tied a career high with five RBIs and Adrian Beltre and Ryan Rua also homered for the A.L. West leaders. Texas (80-54) moved a season-high 26 games over .500 with a fifth straight win and gave Seattle its fifth loss in a row.

Rougned Odor hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday and the American League-best Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 8-7.

An early August surge that carried the Mariners into postseason contention is now a fast-fading memory amid a late August fade that, if unchecked, could usher in another meaningless September.

Taijuan Walker allowed four runs in 7

As reliever Dan Altavilla blew through three Chicago batters Saturday in his major-league debut, the least surprised person at U.S. Cellular Field might have been his former Double-A Jackson teammate.