Mariners 1 - 7 Athletics
Final
  for this game

Mariners go for sweep in Oakland

Apr 3, 2011 - 2:58 PM

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(Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners will try to start a season 3-0 for the first time in 16 years when they go for a sweep over the Oakland Athletics this afternoon in the finale of their season-opening series at the Coliseum.

After Felix Hernandez went the distance for the win on Friday, Ichiro Suzuki propelled the Mariners to the win on Saturday and broke a franchise record in the process, as he became the team's all-time hits leader when his infield single scored Jack Wilson with the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, helping the Mariners to the 5-2 victory.

Suzuki has 2,248 career hits, passing the mark held by Edgar Martinez (2,247). Coincidentally, Suzuki's game on Saturday night came on the 10th anniversary of his major league debut.

"A great accomplishment by a great player," said Mariners manager Eric Wedge. "You can't say it any more simple than that."

One night after committing five errors in a 6-2 loss, miscues hurt the Athletics again. They committed an error in the ninth inning, and a wild pitch from Brian Fuentes (0-1) scored another run.

Jason Vargas had six strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings in the start for the Mariners. Brandon League retired the final three batters in order to get the save.

Seattle, which last swept the A's in 2009, has opened a year with three straight wins just twice and hasn't done so since 1995.

Daric Barton had three hits, including a pair of doubles, for the A's. Brett Anderson lasted six innings in the start, allowing five hits and a run while fanning five.

Hoping to get the A's back on track today will be left-hander Gio Gonzalez, who has a four-game winning streak against the Mariners and was 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA in four starts against them last season.

There are a ton of expectations for Gonzalez following a breakout 2010 that saw him go 15-9 with a 3.23 ERA in a team-high 33 starts.

Seattle, meanwhile, will pin its hopes on right-hander Doug Fister, who got off to a terrific start last season, but faltered down the stretch and ended the year 6-14 with a 4.11 ERA.

For his career Fister is 4-2 against the A's with a 2.90 ERA in seven starts.

Oakland was 13-6 last season against the Mariners.








  • SEATTLE: 1
    OAKLAND: 7
    Final

    Apr 3 6:53 PM


  • Cliff Pennington flied out to left to end the inning.

    Mariners 1, Athletics 7  End 7Apr 3 6:31 PM


  • Mark Ellis walk scored David DeJesus with one out. Bases loaded with one out and Kevin Kouzmanoff due up.

    Mariners 1, Athletics 6  Bot 7, 1 OutApr 3 6:30 PM


  • Kurt Suzuki hit-by-pitch scored Daric Barton with one out. Bases loaded with one out and Mark Ellis due up.

    Mariners 1, Athletics 5  Bot 7, 1 OutApr 3 6:27 PM


  • Hideki Matsui single to right scored Coco Crisp with one out. Bases loaded with one out and Kurt Suzuki due up.

    Mariners 1, Athletics 4  Bot 7, 1 OutApr 3 6:23 PM


  • Mark Ellis single to left scored Josh Willingham with two out. Runner on first with two outs and Kevin Kouzmanoff due up.

    Mariners 1, Athletics 3  Bot 6, 2 OutsApr 3 5:48 PM


  • Mark Ellis groundout to short scored Josh Willingham with two out. Runner on third with two outs and Kevin Kouzmanoff due up.

    Mariners 1, Athletics 2  Bot 4, 2 OutsApr 3 5:15 PM


  • Coco Crisp triple to right center scored Kevin Kouzmanoff with one out. Runner on third with one out and Daric Barton due up.

    Mariners 1, Athletics 1  Bot 3, 1 OutApr 3 4:52 PM


  • Ryan Langerhans one-out, solo Home Run (1) to right. Brendan Ryan due up.

    Mariners 1, Athletics 0  Top 2, 1 OutApr 3 4:31 PM


  • Ichiro Suzuki singled to left. Runner on first with none out and Chone Figgins due up.

    Apr 3 4:10 PM
  • 5
    roots
    - Added 5 roots

    Mariners vs. AthleticsApr 3 3:26 PM

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