M’s sit 12 games behind AL West lead
Aug 22, 2012, 3:39 PM | Updated: Aug 23, 2012, 11:02 am
The 1995 Seattle Mariners will always be remembered by the way they “Refused to Lose.” Could the 2012 Mariners be remembered the same way?
The AL West-leading Texas Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles Wednesday night, meaning the Mariners are now 12 games behind first place.
On Aug. 22, 1995, the Mariners were 11.5 games behind the AL West-leading California Angels before clinching their first playoff berth in franchise history. Exactly 17 years later, the 2012 Mariners are on an eight-game winning streak and have the best record in baseball (25-13) since the All-Star break.
The current Mariners squad actually has a better chance at clinching a playoff berth than their ’95 counterparts, considering Griffey and Co. played 17 less games due to a strike-shortened season.
Plus, the 2012 Mariners are only seven games behind the second Wild Card slot, which was created before the start of this season.