The Mariners could tie a record tonight

The Mariners and the Athletics played a rather exciting series over the weekend that featured a complete mauling of Taijuan Walker, a poor start by Felix Hernandez and a bunch of home runs by Nelson Cruz. In the midst of all that was two-consecutive extra-inning wins by the Mariners on Saturday and Sunday.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that as a baseball fan, I am often easily impressed by things. This weekend was something I was easily impressed by. Playing consecutive games in extra-innings wasn't necessarily too cool, it was more that the Mariners won both games. That, for as long as I can remember, seems to be something that is slightly more rare.

Turns out it is kind of rare. It also turns out that I can't remember for very long, because the last time the Mariners had consecutive extra-innings wins, you have to go all the way back to 2002. I remember 2002. In fact, 2002 was an odd year for the Mariners, as they accomplished the feat not once, but twice. Since then, in the logs of team box scores, the Mariners have won consecutive extra-innings games three more times, Sept. 16-17, 1991, Sept. 4-5, 1984 and June 8-9, 1982. So that rare thing I thought the Mariners have done over the weekend -- turns out they've known pulled the stunt off six times.

So tonight could be something special. If the Mariners win in extra-innings again tonight, surely it has to be something special? The answer to that question is both yes and no. Yes, because extra-innings wins are exciting so three in a row will be something special. No, because the Mariners have already done that before as well.

Between Sept. 16, 2002 and Sept. 18, 2002, the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers faced each other for three games of a four game series. On those three games, the Mariners sent the Rangers packing in extra-innings each night. So there is your record: three! The most consecutive games the Mariners have won in extra-innings.

Three also appears to be the magic number throughout MLB. In fact, it appears that a team has won three-consecutive extra-inning games 33 times over the course of history, most recently being the Kansas City Royals in the freaking playoffs last season. So the Mariners are only halfway there to setting an all-time MLB record of four consecutive extra-inning wins.

The Mariners could tie their team record tonight, but they probably won't. And since extra-inning games are usually bad for blood pressure, for all of our combined overall health, maybe it will be a good thing that it doesn't happen.