Miranda, Lind spur Seattle’s gain in WC race

SEATTLE — Ariel Miranda turned in his best start since being acquired by the Mariners and Adam Lind ripped a pair of home runs, including a grand slam, as Seattle kept its slim postseason hopes alive with an 8-3 victory over the Rangers on Wednesday night at Safeco Field.

The Rangers (83-57) still hold an 8 1/2 game lead in the American League West with 22 left to play and their magic number to clinch the division is 15 after the Astros lost to the Indians on Wednesday.

The Mariners (71-68) won for just the fourth time in their past 15 games and closed to five games back in the AL Wild Card chase. Texas is now 12-6 against Seattle heading into Thursday’s season series finale.

Miranda, acquired from the Orioles for Wade Miley on July 31, allowed three hits and three unearned runs in six-plus innings as he improved to 3-1 with a 4.79 ERA.

The 27-year-old Cuban sailed through five scoreless innings with one hit before a two-out error on shortstop Ketel Marte in the sixth opened the door for a three-run home run by Carlos Beltran that cut Seattle’s lead to 8-3.

“Miranda really got in a nice roll,” said Mariners manager Scott Servais. “That was probably as crisp and smooth as we’ve seen him work since he’s been here and against a really hot-hitting team. It was a nice effort by everybody all the way around.”

Rangers right-hander A.J. Griffin lasted just four innings, giving up eight runs on seven hits — including Lind’s two homers and another by Seth Smith — as he fell to 7-4. Griffin is 4-4 with a 6.29 ERA in 12 starts since coming off the disabled list on July 5 and has allowed 20 homers, the most in the Majors in that span.

“Eight runs down early is a challenge,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “Not the night A.J. was …

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