Mariners’ ascent lands them share of 1st place

SEATTLE — They smelled first place earlier than they even took the sector. They yearned it much more when the ticketed 45,175 at T-Mobile Park appropriately acted like they had been watching a group in a pennant race. And by the point the Mariners recorded the twenty seventh out in a 6-5 victory over the Royals on Friday evening, they reached territory they haven’t occupied in additional than 20 years.

Seattle (72-56) holds a share of first place within the American League West this late within the season for the primary time since Aug. 26, 2003.

Thanks to losses from the Astros in Detroit and the Rangers in Minnesota, the Mariners climbed right into a tie with Texas and superior to a half-game lead over Houston, which it additionally surpassed for the second AL Wild Card spot.

But reaching these uncharted heights wasn’t simple. Facing the group that’s been maybe their peskiest opponent this 12 months, the Mariners needed to overcome a blown lead early then stave off a late Ok.C. rally — together with a bases-loaded jam with two outs within the ninth inning behind Andrés Muñoz, who struck out Matt Duffy to finish the sport.