Let’s take the time machine back to about a year ago.
The Minnesota Twins ended the year with 85 wins, and that was enough to earn the American League’s second wild card to the playoffs, while the Mariners were mired in a record number of injuries and players used to finish with 78 wins (three more than the Oakland Athletics).
Now?
The Mariners won their 85th game of the season with a season-high 13 runs in a 13-0 shutout victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday at Globe Life Park, crushing the Rangers with home runs from Robinson Cano, Mike Zunino and Dee Gordon from the fifth inning on.