Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Josh Wilson singled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Seattle Mariners clipped Texas, 2-1, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Safeco Field.
Doug Fister (6-12) gave up a run on nine hits over seven innings for the Mariners.
Tommy Hunter (12-4) allowed two runs and six hits in six-plus innings for the Rangers. Texas' magic number to clinch its first AL West title since 1999 remains at six.
"We didn't swing as well as we're capable of today," said Rangers third baseman Michael Young. "We just didn't get that big two-out hit, something we've been doing really well over the last couple weeks. Today we just didn't do it."
The game remained scoreless until Nelson Cruz homered to left field off Fister with one out in the sixth. Ian Kinsler and Mitch Moreland followed with consecutive singles, which put men on the corners. Kinsler was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice and Fister retired Julio Borbon on a grounder to end the inning.
Seattle tied the game in the home half of the sixth, when Chone Figgins scored on a one-out double byFranklin Gutierrez.
Ryan Langerhans tripled to open the seventh and came home on Wilson's single to put the Mariners on top.
"(I'm) always up there looking to hit," Langerhans said. "I was just able to see some pitches today and was able to get on base."
Brandon League pitched the eighth for Seattle and David Aardsma escaped trouble in the ninth to earn his 31st save. Pinch-hitter Chris Davis led off with a walk and advanced to third on a consecutive groundouts before Young drew a free pass. David Murphy, though, grounded out to short to end the game.
Cruz upped his home run total to 21...Texas has still won 11 of 16 in the season series with Seattle.