Final
A's seek 12th straight win at home in clash with Mariners
Jun 14, 2013 - 2:32 PM (Sports Network) - Following a marathon performance and a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees, the Oakland Athletics get back to work Friday against the AL West-rival Seattle Mariners in the opener of a three-game series.The Athletics completed the sweep of the visiting Yankees with Thursday's 3-2 win in 18 innings and Nate Freiman's RBI single off future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera extended Oakland's home winning streak to 11 games.
"It was very taxing even winning the game. To lose could have been demoralizing," A's manager Bob Melvin said.
Oakland, which beat the Angels in 19 innings on April 29, became the first American League team to play two 18-inning games in one season since the A's and Washington did so in 1971.
Robinson Cano gave New York a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a home run, but the Athletics came back with two runs in the third. Chris Young scored on a Derek Norris groundout and Seth Smith, who had a team-high three hits, added an RBI double. Scoring was put on hold until Freiman came through against Rivera in the 18th with the bases loaded and one out.
"There are a couple of people that, regardless of the team you root for, you can't really root against -- Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera," Freiman told the club's website. "I've been a Red Sox fan my whole life, and I've always admired the way Rivera's carried himself throughout his career, the professionalism and class. So that was a big thrill."
The A's used seven pitchers and Jesse Chavez pitched the final 5 2/3 innings for the win. Jarrod Parker was on point over the first eight innings and allowed two runs and five hits in the no-decision.
"I knew I was going to be in it for the long haul," Chavez said afterward. "I was going to tell Bob I wanted to go until we scored. I knew we didn't have anyone else. I didn't want to burn one of our starters."
Oakland has won 10 of 13 and 21 of its last 26 games and will send Tommy Milone to the mound Friday. Had Chavez ran into trouble in Thursday's win, Milone may have been called on in relief, but he was able to stay rested for the Mariners and looks to keep his unbeaten streak intact.
Milone is 3-0 in his past five outings and did not figure into the decision of Saturday's 4-1 loss against the Chicago White Sox, as he struck out seven and yielded one run in seven innings of work. In 13 starts this season, the left- hander is 6-5 with a 3.69 ERA. Milone is 1-1 in two starts against Seattle this season and 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA in seven career starts in this series.
Seattle will open a seven-game road trip Friday against the A's and LA Angels and just went 5-5 on a recent homestand.
The Mariners were denied a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros with Wednesday's 6-1 loss at Safeco Field. Houston scored all six of its runs in the top of the ninth inning after the hosts grabbed a 1-0 lead the inning before. Tom Wilhelmsen was dealt the loss for giving up five runs in the ninth and wasted an exceptional performance from Jeremy Bonderman, who struck out five and walked two over eight shutout innings.
"Tom is one of the best in the game so I don't have any problem with that move at all," Bonderman said of being removed to start the ninth. "Ninety-nine percent of the time he's probably going to seal it down. It's just part of the game."
Nick Franklin's two-out RBI single in the eighth gave Seattle a short-lived 1-0 lead. Franklin ended with three hits for the Mariners, losers in seven of the last 12 contests.
Joe Saunders will handle pitching duties for the Mariners Friday and he is coming off a 3-1 loss to the Yankees on Saturday. He was reached for all three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, dropping his record to 4-6 in 13 starts with a 5.12 earned run average.
Saunders, a left-hander, is 1-2 in his past five outings and defeated Oakland on May 12 with a 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball in a 6-1 win. The A's, though, defeated Saunders in his season debut on April 3 at the Coliseum, where they tagged him for four runs in four innings of a 6-2 decision. Saunders, a former Angel from 2005 through parts of 2010, is 14-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 22 career starts against Oakland.
The Mariners have taken four of seven matchups with Oakland so far this season and split a four-game set by the bay from April 1-4.
- Cassie Stupid baseball! Thanks to you, I;m now down 11-16 in the last 7 says. Arrgh!! HULK SMASH! xD
Mariners 3, Athletics 2 FinalJun 16 4:35 PM - SEATTLE: 3
OAKLAND: 2
Final
Jun 15 1:03 AM - Chris Young lead-off Home Run (6) to left. Seth Smith due up.
Mariners 3, Athletics 2 Bot 8, 0 OutsJun 15 12:35 AM - Raul Ibanez single to first scored Nick Franklin with two out. On the play, Michael Morse advanced to second. Runners on first and second and Mike Zunino due up.
Mariners 3, Athletics 1 Top 8, 2 OutsJun 15 12:29 AM - Mike Zunino one-out, solo Home Run (1) to center. Michael Saunders due up.
Mariners 2, Athletics 1 Top 7, 1 OutJun 15 12:00 AM - Eric Sogard double to right scored Adam Rosales with two out. Runner on second and Chris Young due up.
Mariners 1, Athletics 1 Bot 5, 2 OutsJun 14 11:38 PM - Mike Zunino grounded into a double play, short to second to first that scored Michael Morse with two out. Raul Ibanez out at second. None on and Michael Saunders due up.
Mariners 1, Athletics 0 Top 2, 2 OutsJun 14 10:28 PM - SEATTLE: 0
OAKLAND: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jun 14 10:08 PM - Cassie The Mariners better be hoping for a miracle, 'cause the A's WILL probably the AL West. Too early to judge? Maybe? Yeah.
Mariners vs. AthleticsJun 13 9:17 PM
Related News
- Mariners Moose Tracks, 12/26/23: Kyle Keller, J.T. Realmuto, and Chad Smith Dec 26
- Elephant Rumblings: Post-Christmas lull at full throttle Dec 26
- Mariners Moose Tracks, 12/25/23: Mitch Garver, Yuki Matsui, and Joe Kelly Dec 25
- Mariners to sign Mitch Garver to 2-year, $24M contract Dec 24
- Twas The Night Before Christmas... Dec 24
- Elephant Rumblings: Luis Morales a prospect to watch in 2024 Dec 24
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Lawrence Butler Dec 23
- Mariners Moose Tracks, 12/23/23: Bryce Miller, Shelby Miller, and Ryan Minor Dec 23
- Elephant Rumblings: Giants Strike Out in Free Agency Once Again Dec 23
- ZiPS, Holidays & Mariner Malaise - Meet at the Mitt Podcast Dec 22
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Esteury Ruiz Dec 22
- Elephant Rumblings: MLB approves 2024 rule changes Dec 22