In the final game of the four-game series between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners Thursday afternoon at Safeco Field, the Mariners were trying to get a split and had a lot going in their favor especially with "The King" on the hill.

Felix Hernandez was on top of his game Thursday for the Mariners as he took the mound looking for his 17th win of the season. On the offensive side, Seattle was excited to get their big bat back in the lineup in Nelson Cruz and he came back with a boom.

The Rangers were looking to get out of Seattle winning three games out of four and keep pace with the Houston Astros in the AL West race, along with keeping their lead as the second team in the AL Wild Card race.

Texas was completely shut down by Mariners pitching on the day as they could scatter just four hits total. Felix went eight shutout innings giving up just three hits, while striking out eight and walking four. It was classic Felix against a good Rangers offense.

As for the Mariners, they brought out the bats and scored five runs on nine hits off of Texas left-handed starter Derek Holland. Holland did end up going seven innings, but he gave up all five of the runs and struck out five and walking two. The Rangers southpaw had good numbers in Safeco Field coming in, but the Mariners have been a hot offense as of late.

The Mariners wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as a two-run double by Mark Trumbo that scored Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz put them up 2-0, giving Felix some good run support that he really didn't even need.

Holland would get into a bit of a rhythm, until the seventh inning when the Mariners plated three more. Ketel Marte singled up the middle scoring Jesus Sucre to make it 3-0, and then two batters later Nelson Cruz blasted his 40th home run of the season, a two-run shot, to put Seattle ahead 5-0.

The Rangers had some chances but were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, and with Felix pitching the way that he did, it is hard for any offense to plate many runs. Mitch Moreland did have a decent day for Texas, however, as he was 2-for-4 with a double.

As for the Mariners, Mark Trumbo's hot streak continued as he and Nelson Cruz were both 2-for-4 with two RBI. Trumbo also extended his hit streak to 12 games overall, while Kyle Seager saw his 12-game hit streak come to an end. By hitting his 40th home run, Cruz became the fourth Mariner ever to homer 40 times in a season and it was the first time since Alex Rodriguez in 2000.

The Rangers did come out of Seattle with a split, as their lead in the AL Wild Card race is slimmed to just one game over the Minnesota Twins and they see themselves 2.5 games back of the Astros in the AL West race.

Seattle's homestand continues Friday as they welcome the Colorado Rockies to Seattle with Hisashi Iwakuma taking the hill against Chad Bettis of the Rockies. As for Texas, they return home to take on the Oakland A's with Colby Lewis taking the hill for the Rangers against Jesse Chavez of the A's.

WP: Felix Hernandez (17-6, 3.49 ERA)

LP: Derek Holland (3-2, 3.13 ERA)