Seattle Sportsnet

Kenji Johjima hits a two-run home run Monday night (AP).

Kenji Johjima? Really? I didn’t know he had it in him.

But that’s just it about this team. Heroes come from the unlikeliest of places, and tonight it was simply Johjima’s turn to be the savior.

The former starting catcher belted a two-run home run in the sixth inning to give the Mariners a decisive 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The longball was only Johjima’s fourth of the season, and came in the midst of a 1-15 hitting slump that dates back to July 29.

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Ryan Langerhans hits a game-winning home run against Tampa Bay on Friday.

We don’t often find ourselves rooting for the New York Yankees, but Seattle Mariners fans couldn’t be happier after the Bronx Bombers took four straight games from the Boston Red Sox over the weekend. The sweep dropped Boston in the American League wildcard standings and left the Mariners a mere 4.5 games out of the wildcard lead.

At the same time, the Mariners helped their own cause by taking two of three from Tampa Bay, who sits 1.5 games ahead of Seattle in the wildcard hunt.

Though they remain eight games behind the first place Los Angeles Angels in the American League West, the Mariners have managed to stay playoff relevant by continuing to win ballgames.

A host of players who weren’t on the Opening Day roster have played integral roles in logging W’s along the way.

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