Mariners Clinch at Least a Tie but Stay Subdued Amid It All

Aside from a few high-fives and handshakes, there was little celebrating Friday night after the Seattle Mariners clinched a tie for their first division title.

The West wasn’t quite won yet.

The Mariners scored two runs in the eighth inning and beat Texas, 4-3. The Angels’ 9-6 victory late Friday over Oakland, however, prevented the Mariners from clinching the division title.

“I’m going to take a shower and enjoy the win and not worry what’s going on out West. We can control our destiny because we have two games left in the season,” Manager Lou Piniella said.

Edgar and Tino Martinez had consecutive sacrifice flies in the eighth inning for Seattle, which won for the 15th time in 16 games.

It was Seattle’s 43rd comeback victory this year.

Charlton said “Our destiny is still ours. We don’t care what the Angels do. . . . This team never dies.”