Former A’s Valencia, Alonso homer for Seattle in win over Oakland
OAKLAND, Calif. – After James Paxton had his special season interrupted by an injury in August that cost him more than a month, you bet the Seattle lefty wants to make his last start Sunday.
Now he will try to convince manager Scott Servais, who plans to talk to the pitcher Wednesday about just that.
Seattle’s Danny Valencia hit a three-run homer against his former team and fellow ex-Oakland slugger Yonder Alonso added a two-run shot in the Mariners’ 6-3 win over the Athletics on Tuesday night.
Paxton struck out five and didn’t walk a batter in 5 1/3 innings, chased by Khris Davis’ homer. Paxton gave up three runs and six hits as his winless stretch reached four starts since he had seven straight victorious outings.
Paxton told Servais he would like to make one more start – Sunday’s season finale would be his day – but that was to be determined on how the pitcher felt after Tuesday.
“It’s a good step in the right direction for me,” Paxton said of his third start off the disabled list. “Whatever they want me to do, I’m ready to pitch another game.”
“We saw what we needed to see out of him,” Servais said. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Davis matched his career high from last season with his 42nd homer, a two-run shot in the sixth to put Oakland ahead before Valencia’s 15th of the year in the seventh off Daniel Mengden (2-2).
“It would be nice,” Davis said of getting No. 43. “But at the same time it’s not that much big of a deal to me.”
The Mariners have hit 40 homers this month and won their eighth straight against the A’s, Seattle’s longest unbeaten run ever versus Oakland.
Emilio Pagan (2-3) pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, then Edwin Diaz closed it out for his 33rd save.
Alonso’s drive to right ended a 19-inning scoreless streak by Mengden and also was the Seattle first baseman’s fifth homer since joining the Mariners from the A’s on Aug. 6 – and third against Oakland.
Marcus Semien hit the first home run leading off a game of his career with a drive to left for the A’s, who need one more September victory for their first winning month since going 13-12 in April 2016.
Mengden had been 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA over his previous three starts since re-joining the A’s on Sept. 5.
A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell knelt for the national anthem once more and teammate Mark Canha placed his hand on his teammate’s shoulder.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: Felix Hernandez (6-5) won’t pitch this weekend as planned, his long season over as a precaution after a victory Monday night. “With the shoulders kind of barking through the majority of the year I thought last night he did a really good job to hang in there, didn’t have great stuff,” Servais said. “It wasn’t hurting him or anything, just kind of dead arm. He’s at the end of the year, so I don’t know what the benefit is of running him out there right now. We’ve got young pitchers we want to take a look at.” … OF Guillermo Heredia won’t play again because of an injury to his non-throwing shoulder revealed for the first time Tuesday. He will return to Seattle and have an appointment with a doctor soon. … RHP Mike Leake also will be shut down for the rest of the year as he is dealing with a lat muscle issue.
Athletics: RHP Jharel Cotton, who experienced tightness in his elbow and came out of his Sunday start, won’t pitch Friday but rather throw an extended bullpen this weekend in Texas as the A’s use caution with him. An MRI exam showed no structural damage. … RHP Raul Alcantara will start against the Rangers instead. … Rookie 1B Matt Olson will not play again this season because of a Grade 2 hamstring strain. CF Boog Powell (swollen left knee) is done for the season.