A’s Outlast Mariners 7-4 in Wild Clash

The Athletics played spoiler with a 7-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners in a nearly three-and-a-half-hour series opener. The A’s pitching staff overcame eight walks with 18 strikeouts, while the offense scored early and late in the team’s 55th victory of the season.

The A’s took the lead immediately against Mariners starter Kade Anderson. The second batter of the game, left fielder Zack Gelof, hit his 16th home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center field, putting the A’s up 1-0 before the Mariners came to bat.

The Mariners answered right back. A’s starter Jack Perkins walked Seattle’s leadoff hitter Randy Arozarena, who proceeded to score on Julio Rodríguez’s RBI single. The next batter, Cal Raleigh, hit an RBI single, putting the Mariners up 2-1. With two outs, Lazaro Montes hit an RBI single, bringing home the Mariners’ third run of the first inning.

Seattle sent all nine batters to the plate in the first inning, forcing Perkins to throw 40 pitches to complete one frame. The inning could have been worse had A’s catcher Brian Serven not made a smart play to record the third out at home after a wild pitch.

Seeking a response of their own, the A’s first three batters reached in the bottom of the second, setting up a bases-loaded no-out opportunity.

What transpired next was not surprising to anyone following the A’s this season. Shortstop Alika Williams grounded into a double play, bringing home the visitors’ second run of the game, but grinding the rally to a halt. Anderson then struck out Max Muncy to escape the jam with his team still in the lead.

In the third inning, Gelof hit into the A’s MLB-high 116th double play of the season, while right fielder Lawrence Butler extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Perkins’ command issues continued, but he worked through traffic to complete two scoreless innings after the three-run first.

Perkins night was done after three innings. He allowed three runs on four hits, striking out seven while walking five. That combination highlights the right-hander’s talent, but also the work he needs to do to harness his stuff.

The A’s generated a two-out rally in the fifth inning against Anderson. With runners on second and third, Butler lined a two-run single up the middle to give the A’s a 4-3 lead.

Right-hander Scott Blewett pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts in relief of Perkins.

In the sixth inning, the Mariners turned to their bullpen with right-handed reliever Carlos Vargas replacing Anderson. With one out, pinch-hitter Donovan Walton hit his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center field that extended the Athletics’ lead to 5-3.

The Mariners opened the bottom of the sixth with two straight hits against new A’s reliever Chris Roycroft. Arozarena scored Seattle’s fourth run on Julio Rodríguez’s RBI force-out. Williams made a nice stop on the play to get at least one out. Roycroft retired the next two hitters, stranding the tying run on second base.

Roycroft got the first two outs of the seventh before letting the next two hitters reach. Right-hander Luis Medina entered and struck out Arozarena to end the inning, stranding the tying run at third.

Seeking insurance runs, Jeff McNeil led off the eighth inning with a single against Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo and advanced to second when Walton walked. With two outs, Muncy grounded an RBI single to left field, scoring McNeil and restoring the A’s two-run lead. The visitors had a chance to score more, but Gelof grounded out with the bases loaded.

Medina returned for the bottom of the eighth. He walked two batters, raising the A’s pitchers total to eight walks tonight. The Mariners wasted another scoring chance as Medina locked in to complete a scoreless inning.

The A’s scored a seventh run in the ninth inning against left-hander Hoby Milner on back-t0-back doubles by Jonah Heim and McNeil.

Left-hander Hogan Harris retired Seattle in order in the bottom of the ninth, securing his 14th save of the season and giving Blewett his first win in the majors this year.

The Athletics will look to win their third straight game tomorrow night. The A’s have not yet announced their starter, while right-hander Logan Gilbert will take the mound for the Mariners.