J.P. Crawford, Josh Rojas, Ty France and Luke Raley all doubled during a three-run third inning that helped the Seattle Mariners edge the host Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series.
Rojas finished with three hits and Raley had two for the Mariners, who won their fourth game in a row.
Seattle starter George Kirby and A’s counterpart Mitch Spence traded zeroes before Crawford and Rojas led off the third with doubles, putting runners at second and third. After Julio Rodriguez grounded out, France doubled in both runners and then scored on Raley’s double that made it 3-0.
That’s all the support Kirby (5-5) and five Mariners relievers would need. Kirby ended up lasting five-plus innings, giving up two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out nine.
Kirby was pulled after allowing a single to JJ Bleday and a double to Brent Rooker to open the sixth. He left with Seattle leading 4-1.
Shea Langeliers plated Bleday with a groundout against reliever Austin Voth, who then walked Seth Brown before retiring J.D. Davis and Zack Gelof on groundouts to retain a two-run advantage.
Ryne Stanek and Trent Thornton carried the lead into the ninth with one inning of shutout relief apiece before the A’s made it interesting against Mariners closer Andres Munoz in the ninth. Munoz was knocked out of the game after he collided with Max Schuemann at home following a run-scoring wild pitch.
Tayler Saucedo came on with two outs and walked Bleday before retiring Rooker on a comebacker with the tying run at second and winning run at first for his second save.
Oakland’s only run came in the third on an RBI single by Abraham Toro.
The Mariners got that one back, going up 4-1 on a two-out error by Schuemann at shortstop in the fourth that allowed Dylan Moore to score.
Spence (4-3) went six innings, allowing four runs and nine hits. He walked one and struck out three.
Bleday finished with two singles for the A’s, who were outhit 10-8 en route to their fifth loss in six games.
–Field Level Media
