AP Top News｜势头正盛的水手队锁定季后赛席位 剑指美联西区冠军

SEATTLE (AP) The surging Seattle Mariners clinched a spot in the postseason Tuesday night, but they hope the real celebrations are yet to come.

Seattle earned the playoff berth with a dramatic 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies after getting some help from the New York Yankees, who beat the Chicago White Sox earlier Tuesday evening. Josh Naylor provided the big hit, a bases-clearing double with two outs in the eighth inning after Seattle had generated little offense against the major league-worst Rockies.

The Mariners now have their eye on their first AL West title since 2001. Seattle moved four games ahead of the Houston Astros who lost to the Athletics and can wrap up the division as early as Wednesday.

The Mariners are also in position for the second seed in the American League, and can secure that spot as early as Thursday if they sweep the Rockies. That would give Seattle a first-round playoff bye.

This is the Mariners second playoff berth since 2001 and the sixth in franchise history. They ended a 21-year postseason drought in 2022, losing in the divisional round to the Astros. Seattle finished one game out of a wild-card spot in each of the past two seasons.

This year, the Mariners could be the hottest team entering the postseason. Led by slugging catcher Cal Raleigh and his major league-leading 58 homers, Seattle has won 15 of 16 and is coming off a sweep at Houston to take control of the division race.

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西雅图（美联社）——势头强劲的西雅图水手队于周二晚锁定季后赛席位，但他们期待真正的庆祝还在后头。

西雅图队以4比3的戏剧性比分战胜科罗拉多落基山队，锁定季后赛席位。此前纽约扬基队在周二傍晚击败芝加哥白袜队，间接助其一臂之力。约什·纳勒在第八局两人出局时击出清垒二垒安打，成为制胜一击——此前西雅图队面对这支大联盟战绩最差的队伍几乎未能组织有效进攻。

水手队正瞄准自2001年以来的首个美联西区冠军。西雅图水手队目前领先休斯顿太空人队四场（太空人队刚输给运动家队），最早可在周三锁定分区冠军。

水手队目前也处于美联二号种子的有利位置，若能在周四横扫洛基队，便能提前锁定这一席位。这将使西雅图队获得季后赛首轮轮空资格。

这是水手队自2001年以来第二次晋级季后赛，也是队史第六次。2022年，他们终结了长达21年的季后赛荒，但在分区系列赛中不敌太空人队。过去两个赛季，西雅图水手队均以一场之差无缘外卡席位。

今年，水手队或将成为进入季后赛最炙手可热的球队。在重炮手捕手卡尔·罗利（Cal Raleigh）率领下——他以58支本垒打领跑大联盟——西雅图水手队近16场比赛豪取15胜，更在横扫休斯顿后掌握了分区冠军争夺战的主动权。