Mariners’ losing streak reaches nine

TORONTO -- Manager John McLaren is amazed that a nine-game losing streak hasn’t killed Seattle’s playoff hopes.

Matt Stairs and Gregg Zaun each hit two-run homers, A.J. Burnett pitched seven sharp innings and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Mariners, 6-4, on Sunday. The nine-game losing streak is Seattle’s longest since an 11-game skid in August 2006.

“We’re still in good shape,” McLaren said. “It’s amazing. We have the ability to streak the other way but we’ve hit a big bump in the road.”

Seattle, which begins a critical three-game series at New York today, has not won since Aug. 24 at Texas, a victory that put the Mariners a season-high 20 games over .500.

“It’s not getting any easier and we know that,” McLaren said. “All I can say is we’ve got to fight our way through it. There’s no easy way out of this.”

Infielder Jose Vidro said the season probably rests on the outcome of the series with the Yankees, who lead the Mariners by two games in the wild-card race.

“It’s not been easy these last nine games,” he said. “We’ve got to do it like this is it for us.”

Toronto has won seven of its last 10.