The Latest Breaking News from Ty France

The official ruling on the play was a 1-4-6-3 putout.

SEATTLE — The first three batters Bailey Ober faced on Tuesday all scored. But Ober had a good excuse: Pitching with a two-run lead was entirely new to him.

SEATTLE — For the first four innings, the Mariners seemed destined to take a step back in their never-ending dance between a winning record and a losing record — call it the mambo of mediocrity.

SEATTLE — Just as the Seattle Mariners were finally starting to build some momentum — in the standings over the past two weeks, and at the plate late Friday — they quickly snapped back to reality at the worst possible moment.

HOUSTON — Two things that shouldn’t happen did and the Mariners suffered a loss that should’ve been a victory and a series win.

HOUSTON — As hitter after hitter found some way to reach base, and the runs began to pile up from their first of the game to three runs to eventually nine runs in a fourth inning that wouldn’t end, the grumbling from 34,737 fans at Minute Maid Park grew louder…

SEATTLE — Best win of the year?

SEATTLE — In the players lounge of the Mariners clubhouse, which rarely gets used for anything other than pregame meetings, a small library, which is used even less, if at all, was installed featuring a collection of books mostly about motivation, self-help, leadership and improvement.

When Jarred Kelenic was acquired by the Mariners from the Mets on Dec. 3, 2018, the halcyon vision began to come into focus immediately:

Another drama-free victory with plenty of offense against the worst team in baseball?

SEATTLE — Having built another lead as sturdy and permanent as a sandcastle, the Cardinals found themselves once again fighting against the tide to chase down what they had lost.