Mariners to let Cruz play through wrist injury

HOUSTON — Nelson Cruz continues to deal with a painful left wrist that causes him to visibly cringe at times when he swings and misses at pitches, but the Mariners slugger will play as long as he can with his team still clinging to hopes of landing the final American League Wild Card berth.

“He really is grinding through it,” manager Scott Servais said prior to Wednesday’s series finale with the Astros. “You feel bad for him. You play the whole year and hope you’re at your best right at the end, and he’s having to deal with something uncomfortable. With something in your hand when you’re swinging the bat, it is tough.

“But somehow, he keeps finding a way to put the bat on the ball at times when we need it and getting a few hits. We’ll keep running him out there as long as he’ll stay in there. I’m not taking him out until he tells me, ‘That’s it.’ And why would you?”

Cruz, who entered Wednesday with 41 home runs and 102 RBIs, went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles in Tuesday’s 8-4 loss, and he has remained productive at the plate despite the obvious discomfort. Since hurting the wrist while warming up with a weighted bat prior to his third at-bat in the final game of the past homestand, the 36-year-old has …

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