When Chris Sale takes the mound, left-handed batters usually try to take the night off.

The Mariners know they will have at least two participants - Robinson Cano and Felix Hernandez - for the midsummer classic in Minneapolis. Kyle Seager and Fernando Rodney are on the bubble.

HOUSTON – The postgame music wasn’t any louder. There was no additional yelling in the clubhouse or extra celebrations. It may seem strange, but this-winning-is expected. This is the 2014 Mariners.

Seattle capped a series sweep of the Houston Astros on Wednesday afternoon, getting another outstanding start from Chris Young and rallying from a 2-0 deficit en route to a 5-2 win.

Robinson Cano had a three-run shot in the seventh inning, one of the Seattle Mariners’ season-high four homers in a 10-4 win over the Houston Astros on Monday night.

SEATTLE – If Sunday was a glimpse of how the second half of the season will go, the Mariners eagerly will plant a sloppy smooch on it: Felix dominates and Cano eviscerates. The premier tandem explained why the Mariners invested $415 million in their professional lives. Hernandez threw an eight-inning one-hitter, and Cano hit a two-run homer. Ballgame.

SEATTLE – The Mariners were one hit away from making dubious history Saturday night. And if Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager hadn’t led off the fifth inning with a single on an 0-1 fastball from Cleveland pitcher Josh Tomlin, the 23,012 in attendance at Safeco Field at least would have had a story to tell forever.

Cleveland’s Josh Tomlin threw a one-hitter against the Seattle Mariners, striking out a career-high 11 in the Indians’ 5-0 victory Saturday night.

SEATTLE – The 28,084 at Safeco Field Friday night saw the twin oddities of a 7-6-3 double play and an Endy Chavez home run. They also saw something that for a time this year might have seemed unusual but is now beginning to become the norm – another Mariners win.

Endy Chavez singled and scored in the first inning, then ended the night for Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer with a solo home run in the seventh as the Mariners defeated the Indians 3-2 on Friday night.