Photo credit: @Athletics
By Jerry Feitelberg
The A’s evened the series with the Seattle Mariners at one apiece Wednesday night. The A’s Brett Anderson, who was making his first start since being recalled from the Nashville Sounds, gave the team a quality start as he went 6 1/3 innings and allowed two runs and five hits. Anderson struck out four and walked one.
Anderson’s opponent, James Paxton, was dominant. Paxton struck out 16 A’s hitters, which was a Major League-high so far this year, and the A’s could not touch him. Paxton went seven innings and allowed no runs and five hits. Paxton walked just one hitter and struck out 16. Paxton was taken out of the game as he reached the 100-pitch limit. Yet, neither pitcher figured in the decision as the Mariners’ bullpen blew the save and the A’s bats woke up to win a thriller 3-2 at Safeco Field.
The Mariners scored twice in the bottom of the third. Former A’s third baseman, Ryon Healy, led off the inning with his fourth home run of the season. Anderson walked the ageless Ichiro Suzuki. The next hitter, Dee Gordon, grounded out 1-3. Ichiro was running on the pitch and Anderson’s only play was to get Gordon at first. Mariners’ shortstop Jean Segura lined a ball to left to drive in Ichiro with the second run of the inning. Segura was out trying to stretch the hit into a double.
Both Anderson and Paxton continued to pitch well. Anderson left the game in the top of the seventh with one out. Anderson had given up singles to Mitch Haniger and Kyle Seager. Bob Melvin had seen enough and brought in Ryan Dull to pitch. Dull did his job as he retired the next to hitters and the score remained 2-0 in favor of Seattle.
The Mariners brought in Juan Nicasio to pitch the eighth. Nicasio retired the first hitter. Melvin sent in Matt Joyce to pinch-hit for Chad Pinder. Joyce came through with a double to right-centerfield. Nicasio then had to pitch to Jed Lowrie. Lowrie, hitting from the left side, blasted his eighth big fly of the year to tie the game for Oakland. Lowrie now has 30 RBIs and leads the AL in that department.
A’s closer Blake Treinen was brought in to pitch the eighth and ninth. The Mariners loaded the bases with one out. Dee Gordon reached on an infield single. Segura lined a ball that hit the left-field wall on one bounce. Segura was called out at second, but the call was overturned. The A’s gave Robinson Cano an intentional walk to load the bases. Treinen reached back and struck out Nelson Cruz and Mitch Haniger to end the threat.
The A’s took the lead for good when Mark Canha slammed his fourth dinger of the season off Mariners’ closer, Edwin Diaz. Diaz retired the next three hitters. In the bottom of the ninth, Treinen had to walk the tightrope one more time. With one out, Mariners’ catcher Mike Zunino walked. Ryon Healy singled to put men on at first and second. Treinen struck out Ichiro for the second out.Dee Gordon reached on an infield single to load the bases. Gordon was called out but the Mariners challenged, and the call was overturned. Treinen had to find a way to retire Segura. His sinker was working, and he grounded out to end the game. The A’s win 3-2.
Game Notes and Stats: With the win, the A’s evened their season record at 15-15. The Mariners dropped to 17-12, but did not lose ground as the Yankees beat the Houston Astros again 4-0. The Angels beat the Orioles and picked up a game on both the Astros and Mariners. The A’s remain in fourth place in the AL West.
Blake Treinen recorded the win and the Mariners’ closer Edwin Diaz took the loss. Nicasio was charged with a blown save.
The three-game series concluded Thursday night in Seattle. It will again be a battle of two left-handed pitchers. Sean Manaea, who was named AL pitcher of the month, will go for Oakland. Manaea is 4-2 with an ERA of just 1.03. His opponent will be Wade LeBlanc. LeBlanc is 0-0 with an ERA of 4.61. Erasmo Ramirez was supposed to start, but he is out with an injury.
Time of game was two hours and 25 minutes.
11,603 fans attended the game.
Up Next: Game 3 between these two teams will be at 7:10 pm PT.
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