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Seattle Mariners

Out of Right Field: Recap, takeaways from the Seattle Mariners’ 7-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics

The Mariners’ Mallex Smith watches a ball go foul against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, July 7, 2019, in Seattle. (Elaine Thompson / AP)
By Gene Warnick The Spokesman-Review

Matt Olson hit a three-run homer in a five-run first inning and the Oakland Athletics went on to defeat the host Seattle Mariners 7-4 Sunday afternoon.

Marcus Semien and Ramon Laureano also homered for the A’s, who took two of three games in the series and have won nine of their past 12 entering the All-Star break.

Oakland right-hander Daniel Mengden (4-1) won his third straight start, allowing three runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out two.

Omar Narvaez went 4 for 4 with two home runs and four RBIs for the Mariners, who have lost eight of their past 10.

Mariners right-hander Matt Carasiti (0-1), who was being used as the opener for lefty Wade LeBlanc, struggled in the first inning, retiring only one of the six batters he faced.

Of note

Oakland 3B Matt Chapman was chosen to replace Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich, who is suffering from a back issue, in Monday’s Home Run Derby in Cleveland. That means Spokane’s own Pat Shine, who was scheduled to pitch to Yelich, is seemingly sidelined. Chapman said Sunday that his father, Jim, will pitch to him. … Narvaez’s two homers gave him 14 before the All-Star break, a franchise record for a catcher. Mike Zunino hit 13 before the break in 2014. … M’s RHP Mike Wright, who was designated for assignment Friday, was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma.

By the numbers

35: The number of pitchers the M’s have used this season, a major-league record for the most used before the All-Star break. (The All-Star Game was first played in 1933.)

Our take from Right Field

At least Narvaez came to play. The good news is M’s fans won’t have to watch a Seattle outfielder make an error for the next four days (unless 1B/DH Vogelbach somehow gets sent out there in the All-Star Game). Speaking of Vogelbach, MLB missed another chance to put him in the HR Derby when they selected the A’s Chapman instead. Guess the nation isn’t ready for “Vogelbombs.”

Up next

The M’s are off for the All-Star break until Friday, when they play the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, California. Game time is scheduled for 7:07 p.m.