Give credit where credit is due.

On Wednesday, the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 3-2 at T-Mobile Park to move to 68-78 on the season. The win, coupled with losses by the Houston Astros, Cleveland Guardians and Rangers, keeps the M's extremely modest playoff hopes alive at around five percent.

Taylor Ward played a huge part in the victory, hitting an RBI single that tied the game at 1-1 and then drawing a big walk in front of a two-run double by Cole Young that gave the M's a 3-1 lead at the time.

For Ward, it was a solid game, something he hasn't experienced much of since coming to Seattle at the trade deadline. At the time he was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles, he led the American League in on-base percentage and was seen as a good right-handed answer to the struggles of Rob Refsnyder, who also struggled in Seattle. He was a logical addition.

But it hasn't happened for Ward, who has hit .115 in 24 games for the Mariners (9-for-78). He's drawn just nine walks and struck out 24 times. He has yet to hit a home run. His slugging percentage with the Mariners is .141.

As noted by StatsCentre, Ward's total .314 slugging percentage is the lowest of any player in baseball with at least 500 plate appearances this season, just slightly better than the .318 put up by Xander Bogaerts of the San Diego Padres.

Ward wasn't slugging much with Baltimore, either, as he had just seven home runs and a .346 slugging percentage, but what's happened in Seattle has been incredibly surprising. The M's didn't need him to slug, they needed him to get on base and set the table for those that do, but he just hasn't had much of anything go his way.

It's a disappointment for the Mariners, who have basically fallen out of the race, and for Ward, who is headed for free agency at the conclusion of this season.

He's also battled an upper leg injury with the M's and has been relegated to designated hitter only duties at times.

The Mariners will play Thursday in a basically must-win game against the Rangers again, with first pitch coming at 1:10 p.m. PT. Logan Gilbert will take the mound for Seattle while former Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom pitches for the Rangers.

The M's will then travel to West Sacramento for a series with the Athletics over the weekend. The A's just took three-of-four in Seattle last weekend and then beat the Toronto Blue Jays in two-of-three earlier this week.