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Seattle Mariners

Mariners log: Seattle bounces back with 6-5 win over Oakland Athletics

Seattle Mariners' Kyle Seager, left, lets out a yell after being greeted at home by Guillermo Heredia on Seager's two-run home run. (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press)
From staff reporters

MARINER’S SNAP FOUR-GAME LOSING STREAK

What happened: The Mariners rallied behind a pair of homers and bounced back from a four-game sweep to beat the Oakland Athletics 6-5 on Monday at safeco Field in Seattle.

Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager hit a two-run home run apiece to help the Mariners hold onto a lead and avoid a fifth straight loss. The M’s built their lead to as much as 4-0 early in the game.

The A’s trailed by three heading into the ninth inning when Seattle closer Edwin Diaz forced a run with a walk and the bases loaded. The A’s scored one more time before Mariners pitcher Tony Zych, who relieved Diaz halfway through the ninth, struck out the final batter with the bases loaded again.

Monday night was Seattle’s first night of a seven-game homestand. The Mariners came to Safeco Field after being swept by the Blue Jays in a four-game series in Toronto.

Line Outs

  • Four. That’s how many walks Oakland pitcher Sean Manaea issued in the first inning. Two walks forced in a pair of runs for the Mariners after Seattle loaded the bases. Manaea tossed 21 balls in the first to eight Seattle batters.

    • Nelson Cruz drove a pitch out of the park with Jean Segura on base in the second inning. Mariners took a comfortable 4-0 lead over the Athletics.

  • Oakland’s Khris Davis answered for the A’s in the top of the fourth with a solo shot that landed just beyond the center-field wall. Davis battled through 12 pitches before he teed off on Yovani Gallardo’s two-seam fastball that flew down the center of the plate.

    • Stephen Vogt smacked a two-run homer in the fifth for the A’s to narrow Seattle’s lead to 4-3. With no outs.

  • Seattle reliever Dan Altavilla tossed four consecutive balls to Rajai Davis in the seventh to load the bases with one out. The Mariners recovered and maintained their one-run lead with a subsequent strikeout and groundout to second.
  • Cruz hit a long fly to center field with Guillermo Heredia on second in the eighth inning. Cruz’s fly was caught on the track, but Heredia advanced to third after tagging up. Kyle Seager followed Cruz with another long shot to center field. This time, the ball cleared the fence, sending Heredia and Seager home and extending Seattle’s lead to 6-3.
  • Mariners closers Edwin Diaz issued four straight walks, forcing a fourth run for the A’s in the ninth. Tony Zych replaced Diaz and gave up a run on a hard groundout to shortstop on the first pitch. Zych walked the next batter to load the bases and tossed a final strikeout to end the game.

Tweet of the Day

Players of the Game

Hero: Nelson Cruz. Smacked a two-run homer that gave Seattle a 4-0 lead early in the game. Cruz was 1 for 3 at the plate, but had no strikouts.

Goat: Edwin Diaz. Walked four straight Oakland batters to give Seattle a one-run lead in the ninth inning.

Next Game

Seattle Mariners (18-21) v. Oakland Athletics (16-22) on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. at Safeco Field. RHP Chase De Jong (0-3, 7.85) vs. RHP Andrew Triggs (5-2, 2.21).

What others are saying (and writing)

The M’s relied on the home run to build the seemingly insurmountable lead. Then almost gave it all away. … Cishek is back. And actually pitched. That’s good news. … The A’s have scuffled this year just like the Mariners. Last night, the starting pitching was their downfall. … Speaking of starters, the M’s have held more auditions than “Hamilton.” … Mike Trout is getting better.