MLB playoffs standings: Jon Lester leads Oakland to another win over Seattle on Sunday

The Mariners’ playoff hopes took a dent this weekend after back-to-back losses against the Athletics.

Sep 15, 2014, 1:00 PM UTC

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Athletics got another pivotal win Sunday against the Seattle Mariners, taking two out of three in a series that could’ve given Seattle a legitimate leg up in the AL Wild Card race. With two losses in two days after taking the series opener, the Mariners are now 1.5 games behind Kansas City for the final wild card spot, and 2.5 games behind Oakland.

Jon Lester delivered a fantastic outing against the Mariners, allowing four hits and zero runs over six innings before passing things off to the bullpen. Both teams managed six hits apiece, but Seattle couldn't get onto the scoreboard while a pair of solo homers from Sam Fuld and Brandon Moss powered the A's.

The pressure is now on Seattle to make up ground in the standings with a schedule that includes seven remaining games against the first-place Angels. With five losses in their past seven games, the Mariners badly need to reverse their fortunes soon to keep those playoff hopes alive.

American League

	Team	W-L	Pct	GB
ALW	Angels	93-56	.624	---
ALE	Orioles	89-60	.597	---
ALC	Tigers	83-66	.557	---
WC1	Athletics	83-66	.557	+1½
WC2	Royals	81-67	.547	---
	Mariners	80-68	.541	1
	Blue Jays	77-71	.520	4
	Yankees	76-72	.514	5
	Indians	76-72	.514	5
	Rays	72-78	.480	10
	White Sox	68-81	.456	13½
	Astros	66-83	.443	15½
	Red Sox	66-84	.440	16
	Twins	63-86	.423	18½
	Rangers	57-92	.383	24½

National League

	Team	W-L	Pct	GB
NLE	Nationals	85-63	.574	---
NLW	Dodgers	85-64	.570	---
NLC	Cardinals	83-67	.553	---
WC1	Giants	82-67	.550	+3
WC2	Pirates	79-70	.530	---
	Brewers	78-72	.520	1½
	Braves	75-74	.503	3½
	Marlins	72-76	.486	6½
	Mets	72-78	.480	7½
	Reds	71-79	.473	8½
	Phillies	69-80	.463	10
	Padres	68-80	.459	10½
	Cubs	65-84	.436	14
	Diamondbacks	61-88	.409	18
	Rockies	59-90	.396	20

Notables

Houston's Dallas Keuchel took a no-hitter into the seventh inning Sunday afternoon against the Angels before Mike Trout eventually broke up the bid. The 26-year-old lefty finished the game, a 6-1 Astros win, with three hits and one run allowed over seven innings. He also struck out four and walked one.
Jonathan Papelbon got ejected from Sunday's game for grabbing his crotch while walking off the field after blowing a save. Not a great way to end the week for the Phillies reliever.
The Pirates turned a rare around-the-horn triple play against the Cubs on Sunday. It was the first triple play ever recorded at PNC Park, where the team has played since 2001. Pittsburgh's last triple play at home came in 1993 at Three Rivers Stadium.

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