Mariners mash Indians

CLEVELAND (AP) — Felix Hernandez shook off banging his head while trying to make a fielding play and struck out 10, Wily Mo Pena drove in four runs and the hard-hitting Seattle Mariners chased Cleveland starter Josh Tomlin in the fifth inning Wednesday in a 9-2 rout that left the Indians’ playoff hopes flickering.

Hernandez (12-11) allowed two runs in six innings, and the Mariners banged out 16 hits and became the first team to knock Tomlin out before the sixth in his career.

The last-place Mariners pounded out 51 hits while taking three of four in the series from the Indians, who dropped 6½ games behind AL Central-leading Detroit.

Seattle rookie Kyle Seager, one of five first-year players in manager Eric Wedge’s starting lineup, went 4 for 4 with three doubles and batted .769 (10 for 13) in the four-game series. In three games, his batting average rose from .224 to .313.

“It’s probably the best 24 hours I’ve had in a while,” Seager said. “Hopefully it will continue for a little bit and I can kind of ride the wave.”