Derek Holland scattered four hits over 6.2 innings, Nelson Cruz homered, and the Texas Rangers defeated Felix Hernandez and the Mariners 5-2 Saturday night at Safeco Field, a season-high eighth consecutive defeat. The Mariners (20-29), who were within one game of .500 a week ago, close out the three-game series with Texas Sunday afternoon.

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GAME: Rangers (31-17, 1st, AL West, +5.5 GA) at Mariners (20-28, 4th, AL West, -11.0 GB). GAME #: 49. SERIES: 2nd of 3 games. MEETING: 9th (Rangers lead 6-2). WHEN: Saturday, 7:10 p.m., Safeco Field. STREAKS: Mariners L 7; Rangers W 2. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network

Since Felix Hernandez made his major league debut in 2005, no team has given him more fits than the Texas Rangers. Hernandez, the 2010 Cy Young winner, made 35 starts against Texas and is 12-17, 3.77 ERA. The 17 losses are nearly three times as many as any other team against Hernandez (Oakland has beaten him six times) and his ERA is the highest against any club he's faced more than 10 times.

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Seahawks backup tight end Anthony McCoy is out at least six months after surgery to repair an Achilles tendon torn during organized team activities this week, according to USA Today.

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The Mariners made it official Friday, summoning catcher Jesus Sucre, 25, from AAA Tacoma one day after optioning catcher Jesus Montero to the Rainiers. Seattle also recalled INF Carlos Triunfel and designated INF Robert Andino for assignment. Sucre and Triunfel will available for the series opener against Texas Friday night at Safeco Field.

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GAME: Rangers (30-17, 1st, AL West, +5.5 GA) at Mariners (20-27, 3rd, AL West, -10.0 GB). GAME #: 48. SERIES: 1st of 3 games. MEETING: 8th (Rangers lead 5-2). WHEN: Friday, 7:10 p.m., Safeco Field. STREAKS: Mariners L 6; Rangers W 1. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network

One thing you can say for sure about Mariners manager Eric Wedge: He's no pessimist, even at a time when pessimism among Seattle fans is running rampant. The club has lost a season-high six games in a row, including 12-0 and 7-1 bloodlettings in the two-game series against the L.A. Angels. Plus, the Mariners are seven games under .500 and 10 games back in the division race. Not to worry, Wedge suggests.

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The Mariners have yet to make it official, but according to a report in the News Tribune that was also published by mlb.com, the club will option struggling catcher Jesus Montero to the AAA Tacoma Rainiers Thursday and call up Jesus Sucre to take his place. The Mariners will have to clear a 40-man roster spot for Sucre.

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The only good thing that happened to the Mariners Wednesday in Anaheim was that Mike Trout didn't hit for the cycle for the second day in a row, although he started off as he would with a single and a triple in his first two at-bats. The Mariners contained Trout's damage from there, but fell to the Angels 7-1 a day after losing 12-0.

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GAME: Mariners (20-26, 3rd, AL West, -9.0 GB) at Angels (18-27, 4th, AL West, -10.5 GB). GAME #: 47. SERIES: 2nd of 2 games. MEETING: 6th (Mariners lead 3-2). WHEN: Wednesday, 4:05 p.m., Angels Stadium. STREAKS: Mariners L 5; Angels W 3. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network

Prior to the bizarre developments last weekend in Cleveland, where the Mariners suffered three walk-off losses in a four game span, the last time the Mariners sustained a trio of walk-off defeats over four contests was May 10-13, 2011. In the May 10 game, at Baltimore, catcher Matt Wieters won it for the Orioles 7-6 with a 13th-inning single off then-closer Brandon League.

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As Phil Jackson continues a tour to promote his new book, "11 Rings," he keeps making it sound as if Chris Hansen would have let him run the Sonics franchise, were Hansen to have sprung the Kings from Sacramaento.

On the "Dan Patrick Show" Tuesday, Jackson reiterated his interest, this time saying had a deal, and seem to be very impressed with Hansen.

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All of a sudden, a walk-off loss looks pretty good. The Mariners, after losing three of them in a four-game span last weekend in Cleveland, were never in the game Tuesday night in their worst loss of the season, a 12-0 blowout to the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim. The Mariners (20-26) have lost a season-high five in a row.

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Here's an idea that's bound to elate all University of Washington basketball fans: The first Washington Men's Basketball Alumni event is June 23 at Alaska Airlines Arena, and will feature a host of former UW (and current professional) stars, who will take part in a Legends Game, an Alumni Game, a Slam Dunk contest and a 3-point shootout.

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Midfielder Brad Evans will join Sounders FC teammate Eddie Johnson on the U.S. National Team that will play in three qualifier matches in pursuit of a berth 2014 World Cup bid. Evans reports to training camp Monday after the Sounders game at 8 p.m. Sunday in Los Angeles against the Galaxy.

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A day after news that he had been arrested for DUI May 5, quarterback Josh Portis was released by the Seahawks Tuesday morning. Portis never played in a game for the Seahawks, but he was on the roster for parts of the 2011 and 2012 seasons. He was brought back in April to compete for the backup job to starter Russell Wilson.

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GAME: Mariners (20-25, 3rd, AL West, -9.0 GB) at Angels (17-27, 4th, AL West, -11.5 GB). GAME #: 46. SERIES: 1st of 2 games. MEETING: 5th (Mariners lead 3-1). WHEN: Tuesday, 7:05 p.m., Angels Stadium. STREAKS: Mariners W 1; Angels W 2. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network

Three walk-off losses in a four-game span is bad enough, but imagine the grief Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik would be taking today if he'd actually been successful in his pursuit of free agent Josh Hamilton last winter. For a $125 million outlay, Zduriencik would have a .216 OBP free agent bust on his hands. Instead, Hamilton is a headache, one of several  that belong to the Los Angeles Angels.

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The University of Washington's Chris Williams won the 2013 Ben Hogan Award Monday night, becoming the second Husky in four years to be named college golf's best men's player. Nick Taylor won the same award in 2010.

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After nearly a week of silence following the rebuke by NBA owners of his offer to buy and relocate the Sacramento Kings, Chris Hansen said he plans to continue with the SoDo arena project and to "work with the League regarding opportunities that may arise to return an NBA franchise to our City."

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Backup quarterback candidate Josh Portis was arrested May 5 on eastbound I-90 for driving while intoxicated, becoming the latest Seahawks player to be caught with a rules problem. The Seattle Times reported that he will be arraigned May 28 in Redmond and be charged with a gross misdemeanor.

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A walk-off home run by Yan Gomes, a devastating three-run shot off Charlie Furbush in the 10th inning, gave the Cleveland Indians a stunning 10-8 victory and a sweep of their four-game series with Seattle at Progressive Field. The Mariners suffered three-walk off defeats in the series, and a meltdown by  ace Felix Hernandez.

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Seattle Sounders forward Eddie Johnson has been voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 12 after he tallied two goals in a 4-2 win over league-leading FC Dallas last Saturday at CenturyLink Field. Johnson's brace helped the Sounders extend their unbeaten streak to six games.

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GAME: Mariners (20-24, 3rd, AL West, -9.0 GB) at Indians (25-17, 1st, AL Central, +2.0 GA). GAME #: 45. SERIES: 4th of 4 games. MEETING: 4th (Indians lead 3-0). WHEN: Monday, 9:05 a.m., Progressive Field. STREAKS: Mariners L 3; Indians W 4. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network

After losing twice to Cleveland on walk-off hits and a third time in a Felix Hernandez meltdown, the Mariners wrap up their four-game series with the Indians at Progressive Field Monday morning. RHP Hisashi Iwakuma is the main man standing between Seattle and its first four-game losing streak of the season.

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