Mariners, Once in Driver’s Seat, Have Title Hopes Suspended, 9-3

The Seattle Mariners, attempting one of baseball’s greatest comebacks, couldn’t finish it--at least not yet.

Seattle has one more chance to win the AL West, a winner-take-all game with the Angels on Monday in the Kingdome.

The 145th game was forced because the Mariners lost, 9-3, to the Texas Rangers on Sunday. A few hours later, the Angels defeated the Oakland Athletics, 6-2, leaving both teams at 78-66.

“It will be nice to win it in front of the home folks,” Mariner Manager Lou Piniella said. “We’ve got a darn good pitcher and a team that plays darn good baseball. We’re still in great shape.”

Seattle will send Randy Johnson (17-2) against Mark Langston (15-6). Seattle won a coin flip last month for the right to play host.

The Mariners turned what had been a 13-game deficit on Aug. 2 into a three-game lead with five to play. As of Friday, they were up by two with two to play; they then lost 9-2 on Saturday and by nearly the same score Sunday.

Seattle never put itself in position to win Sunday. Tim Belcher (10-12) gave up a three-run home run to Mickey Tettleton in the first. The Rangers increased their lead to 7-1 after five.

Kenny Rogers (17-7) started on three days’ rest and gave up three runs in six innings. Matt Whiteside finished for his third save.