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Kielty, Athletics top Mariners with late comeback

Sep 28, 2006 - 5:43 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Despite the Oakland Athletics already clinching the division title, Bobby Kielty would not let them lose.

Kielty smacked a go-ahead double in the 10th inning and Dan Johnson tied the game in the ninth with a two-run triple, his first in the major leagues, as the Athletics posted a 7-6 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Trailing, 6-4, in the ninth, Johnson and Nick Swisher singled, setting up Kielty's line drive that was misplayed by center fielder Ichiro Suzuki into a game-tying two-run triple.

"It's good to get an extra-inning win like that," Kielty said. "It builds momentum. If we can win going into the playoffs we'll feel good about ourselves as a team and be more confident."

One inning later, Hiram Bocachica singled and advanced to second on Marco Scutaro's sacrifice bunt. Kielty then stroked a double to center off George Sherrill (2-4) for a 7-6 lead.

Oakland starter Jason Windsor allowed five runs and seven hits, striking out one and walking two.

Five relievers pitched the final five frames for the A's. Jay Witasick (1-0) pitched the ninth to pick up the victory and Huston Street struck out the side in the 10th for his 37th save.

"My confidence hasn't changed," said Street, who had blown his previous two save opportunities. "Whether this outing came after two blown saves or 18 saves in a row, it means the same to me. You try not to let those things affect you. We're going to the playoffs in four days and you start off with zeros and that's what really matters."

In addition to many of his regulars, A's manager Ken Macha gave himself the night off as well, turning his duties over to bench coach Bob Geren.

"Mach told me last night that I was on tomorrow and I really didn't think anything of it until today when I realized he was serious," said Geren, who was 452-390 as a minor league skipper. "It was great to have an opportunity to do it and we had a bunch of guys out there who were dying to play. I liked the intensity and it was fun to watch them play."

Mariners starter Gil Meche, who has been rumored to leave as a free agent after the season, yielded three runs and six hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking five. Richie Sexson had two doubles and an RBI for Seattle.

"It is emotional," Meche said of possibly pitching his final game in a Seattle uniform. "I've been here a long time and I don't know what is going to happen. I am just going to go home and relax and let my agent take care of things."

Raul Ibanez went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, but Adrian Beltre saw his 16-game streak come to an end after going 0-for-4.