THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: No, winning isn't all that easy

You could scramble through a million words.

Try to explain what lies ahead for the Mariners in a thrilling, but tense and terrifying, September battle for the AL Division title against the bloated-payroll Rangers and the talent-rich, World Series champion Astros.

We’ll let pennant race veteran Teoscar Hernandez frame this stretch run — potentially one of the most exciting in Seattle baseball history.

Quoth Teo: “Winning. Is. Not. Easy.”

If the Mariners or their fans had any doubt what will be coming, they got a nervy glimpse on Wednesday as the M’s scratched, clawed and ultimately rallied for a 5-4 victory over an Oakland team that’s on pace to lose 115 games.

The win allowed the Mariners to maintain their share of first place, but it was never easy — especially with a massive hole in the lineup where we’d normally see superstar Julio Rodriguez.

J-Rod sat out his second straight game (Oakland won 3-1 on Tuesday night, the only loss on this homestand) with strange discomfort in his left foot.

The unexplained ailment caused some swelling, so the Mariners played it safe — sitting their treasure down and even getting an MRI done in addition to basic treatment on the foot.

NEEDLESS to say, Julio went just a teeny bit crazy having to watch the series finale run its course without him.

Still, he understood the caution.

The Mariners are not likely to win much of anything without him.

“You know I don’t want to be out of the lineup ever, especially right now,” Julio said. “I want to be out there, but we have to be smart, too.”

Manager Scott Servais sounded as though the foot issue was improving, and he said the hope was that Rodriguez would get more rest with the team off today, then return to the lineup Friday night against the Mets in New York.

It’s mind-boggling to quantify what Julio means to this offense.

In August alone, as the Mariners won a franchise-record 21 games in a single month, Julio hit .429 (45 for 105) with 19 runs, 10 doubles, seven home runs, 30 RBI and 11 stolen bases.

You cannot replace that kind of player, but Hernandez gave it a hell of a shot on Wednesday.

He hit a rocket three-run homer in the third to erase a 3-0 deficit, then made a fantastic throw from right field to nail the incredibly swift Esteury Ruiz at the plate on what appeared to be a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.

Ruiz was called safe despite a wonderful sweep tag by Cal Raleigh.

The run would have given the A’s a 5-3 lead, but the Mariners challenged the call at the plate and got it overturned.

“Thank goodness we have replay now,” Servais said. “Back in the day, there wouldn’t have been anything we could do — and I would have gotten thrown out of the game.”

Hernandez, by the way, leads all AL outfielders with 12 assists.

His bat has seriously gone to work, as well.

If Julio weren’t around to be player of the month, Teo could claim it after pounding seven homers, nine doubles and 22 RBI, and a 1.071 OPS.

Hernandez has also become one of the team leaders, both on the field and in the clubhouse.

SERVAIS went to pains after the game, making the point that this sort of tension will be hanging there for the next full month — and maybe beyond.

“It’s not gonna be a smooth ride,” he said. “There are going to be ups and downs, peaks and valleys.

“The key is staying steady and just playing our baseball — good pitching, doing all the little things, getting the big hits when it matters.

“I talk about these little things, but today Geno (Suarez) worked a two-out walk in the third inning (with Seattle down 3-0).

“It doesn’t seem like much, but then Cal hits a double and Teo ties it with that (110-mph missile into the left-field seats).”

In the seventh, after Oakland had gone up 4-3, trade acquisition Dom Canzone opened the Mariner half with a double, and reclamation project Mike Ford dropped in a single.

Jose Caballero ran for Ford, Dylan Moore drew a walk, and with the bases loaded, J.P. Crawford sliced a single to left, scoring two runs for the lead.

“You know J.P. is going to get a bat to the ball,” Servais said. “That’s just him.”

Matt Brash and Andres Munoz each pitched a scoreless inning to close out the game, preserving a gutty six-inning effort from starter Bryce Miller.

“That’s how we have to win,” Servais said. “But we’ve got a good team here, we’re not in first place by luck, and everyone is ready for this challenge.”

Remember Teo’s warning, though, that winning is not easy.

Ever.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”