ARLINGTON -- The Mariners had planned to go with an opener on Wednesday in the finale of their two-game series with the Rangers, but that idea was scratched after Tuesday’s game, around a half-day before the Trade Deadline was set to pass.

Turns out, manager Scott Servais opted not to use an opener because he wasn't sure which relievers were still going to be with the Mariners at game time. Such is life for all big league skippers -- some more than others -- on July 31; they can make educated guesses, but often, they have to wait it out just like everyone else.

So the Mariners decided to go with scheduled starter Wade LeBlanc, a veteran left-hander, who they figured might fare well against the Rangers' lefty-heavy lineup. LeBlanc allowed six runs over 4 1/3 innings -- in Seattle’s 9-7 loss at Globe Life Park, which ended the club’s six-game winning streak.

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LeBlanc’s short outing put more pressure on a bullpen that looked much different, and far less experienced than it did one day earlier. Right-handers Gerson Bautista and Zac Grotz were added to the roster after the Mariners traded Hunter Strickland and Roenis Elias to the Nationals, and the rotation is down one very durable veteran in Mike Leake, who was dealt to the D-backs.

The inexperience of the relief corps, as it’s currently constructed, factored in to how Servais handled the innings following LeBlanc’s exit. Servais went with veteran Matt Magill for the sixth inning and stuck with him in the seventh, but a leadoff walk to Willie Calhoun began a Rangers rally that produced three runs and gave Texas the lead for good.

“We're in a different situation now,” Servais said. “We have some inexperienced guys down there. We're a little light -- just bodies. When we get over to Houston, we'll have a full 'pen. But it'll be a lot less experienced. There are guys we'll have to be patient with.”

The Mariners have been in transition for a while, and the final two months of the regular season will be no different. The club, which has gone through numerous makeovers in the past year-plus, will continue to evaluate with future seasons in mind.

The past week has provided glimpses of the promise the Mariners are looking for. Kyle Seager, a club cornerstone, has struggled since recovering from hand surgery, but he has four hits in the past two games and 12 hits during a nine-game hitting streak, the third-longest active streak in the American League.

Austin Nola has been another bright spot since the All-Star break. Including a 3-for-4 performance on Wednesday, the second baseman is hitting .391 (18-for-46) since July 14, a span of 14 games.

Nola launched a leadoff homer in the second inning off Rangers lefty Mike Minor that left his bat at exactly 100 mph and traveled a projected 400 feet, according to Statcast.

“He can hit. He's got a good swing path,” Servais said. “The biggest thing that Austin does is he swings at strikes. He doesn't chase out of the strike zone too often. He doesn't do too much at the plate. He has a pretty good idea of what the pitchers are going to go after him with, and he makes contact.”

“That's the key -- making good contact in the zone and getting good pitches to hit,” Nola said. “Slowing it down, that's the biggest thing. For me it's just pitch selection and having a plan.”

Beckham exits early

Tim Beckham exited the game in the second inning after experiencing oblique tightness, an injury that popped up when he made a throw home the previous inning.

Beckham, who opened the scoring with an RBI single and was replaced in left field by Ryan Court, will be evaluated again on Thursday and he is considered day to day.

"Not sure how serious it is," Servais said. "We'll get him checked out in the morning. If he has to get an MRI or something like that we'll take care of it in the morning. It's a little bit of an oblique. I don't think it's anything serious, but we'll see how he feels in the morning."