SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners’ 5-4 win over the Texas Rangers was important.

The Mariners were unable to lose ground on the Houston Astros and remained 4.5 games out of first place in the American League West. Seattle’s win also meant they are only 2.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins, who hold the final AL Wild Card spot.

With 13 games left this season, every contest feels like a life-or-death decision until the Mariners are mathematically eliminated or advance to the postseason.

Seattle will need every player on the roster to make an impact if it wants to reach the postseason. First through nine in the lineup, starter through bullpen on the pitching staff, no matter who you name among the Mariners’ 28 players, they will have to play their best.

Therefore, it is good that one Seattle player has shown such consistent performance over the last ten games like hardly any other.

Mariners first baseman and designated hitter Justin Turner struck out two of four batters in Saturday’s win over Texas, including one double.

With this performance at the plate, Turner’s on-base streak has increased to 10 games. If you extend that statistic to the entire month of September, Turner has reached base safely in 11 of 12 games through Sunday.

During Turner’s winning streak, he went hitless three times. But he managed to reach bases in other ways. In the three games in which he didn’t have a base hit, he managed a total of four walks. One of those walks was intentional.

During his 10-game streak, Turner has hit 10-of-36 (.278) with an RBI and scored 10 times.

A 16-year Major Leaguer and former World Series winner, Turner knows what it takes to win at the highest level.