Mariners 8, Athletics 3
OAKLAND, Calif. - A well-rested Felix Hernandez pitched eight solid innings, and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Oakland Athletics 8-3, winning their fourth straight game Saturday night at the O.co Coliseum.
Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon had Hernandez skip his previous scheduled start Monday at Houston to "freshen him up" for September.
Hernandez (16-8) gave up three runs on six hits, struck out nine and walked none. With 16 wins, Hernandez moved into a tie for first in the American League with Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel.
The hot-hitting Mariners gave Hernandez more than enough support. First baseman Logan Morrison hit a two-run homer in the third inning, his 16th blast of the season, and rookie left fielder Shawn O'Malley hit his first career homer, a solo shot in the fourth.
O'Malley went 2-for-2 with a home run and a double, walked twice and scored two runs in his second major-league game. Right fielder Seth Smith went 3-for-4 with two doubles, walked once and scored twice. Third baseman Kyle Seager stayed hot, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double.
Rookie first baseman Mark Canha hit his 12th home run of the season, a solo blast leading off the fourth inning for Oakland, which lost its fourth straight game. Catcher Stephen Vogt had two hits in four at-bats and scored a run, and designated hitter Billy Butler went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Hernandez improved to 22-8 overall for his career against Oakland and 11-3 at the Coliseum. He's tied for second with Mike Flanagan for the most victories by an opposing pitcher at the Coliseum, one behind Tommy John.
Athletics right-hander Jesse Chavez (7-14) had his shortest start of the season, giving up five runs on six hits over two innings. He struck out two, walked a season-high five and fell to 0-6 for his career against Seattle. Chavez leads the American League with 14 losses and is tied for the major-league lead.
The Mariners sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning and built a 3-0 lead. Shortstop Ketel Marte led off with a four-pitch walk and moved to third on Seager's single. Second baseman Robinson Cano lined an RBI double off the left-center field fence, making it 1-0, and Chavez walked Smith on four pitches to load the bases.
Morrison grounded into a force play, driving in Seager and moving Cano to third. Center fielder Brad Miller brought Cano home with an infield single.
The Mariners increased their lead to 5-0 in the third when Smith lined a leadoff single and Morrison launched Chavez's 1-0 cutter into the right-field seats.
O'Malley led off the fourth with a home run to right off A's reliever Arnold Leon, making it 6-0.
The A's answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Canha drove a leadoff home run over the right-center field fence, ripping Hernandez's 1-2 fastball. With two outs, Vogt lined a single to left and Lawrie moved him to third with a sharp double down the left-field line. Butler followed by grounding a two-run single to center.
Seattle scored another run in the fifth as Smith hit a leadoff double and came home on designated hitter Mark Trumbo's one-out single.
Oakland right fielder Josh Reddick left the game after the second inning because of an illness. Jason Pridie replaced him.
NOTES: Mariners DH Nelson Cruz (strained right quad) was out of the lineup for the second straight game Saturday against Oakland. Cruz, who ranks second in the major leagues in home runs with 39, was injured Wednesday at Houston. Cruz said he felt "better," but he didn't take batting practice Friday and could miss Sunday's series-finale. "I'd say right now it's probably 50-50," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. ... Seattle LF Franklin Gutierrez (strained groin) was out of the starting lineup Saturday against Oakland. Gutierrez was injured Friday night, leaving that game after the top of the second inning. "Feels a little better," McClendon said. "It wasn't as bad as we thought it was. We'll see how he feels tomorrow." ... A's LHP Sean Nolin, who was recalled Friday from Triple-A Nashville, will make his Oakland debut and his second major-league start Sunday against Seattle. "I've been waiting for it all year," said Nolin, who came to Oakland from Toronto in an offseason trade. "Definitely excited to just get out there on the mound." ... A's rookie reliever Ryan Dull allowed no runs and one hit over three innings in his first three major-league appearances since being recalled Tuesday from Nashville.