Athletics at Mariners
The Oakland Athletics are aiming to ride the momentum of an epic hitting performance when they open a three-game series on Friday against the host Seattle Mariners. After producing a total of one run and eight hits in back-to-back defeats, the Oakland bats erupted for 21 hits in a 16-6 dismantling of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
Jed Lowrie and Marcus Semien each had four RBIs and Khris Davis fell a triple short of the cycle as the Athletics pounded the ball all night. "It felt like a coming-out party, just knocks everywhere, a lot of momentum on our side," Davis told reporters afterward. "We just gotta keep it rolling." Seattle won three of its past four games as the bat of Kyle Seager awakened, and the 30-year-old boasts two homers and seven RBIs during that stretch after having no homers and two RBIs over the first six games. Offseason acquisition Dee Gordon has begun his Mariners' tenure with a 10-game hitting streak and is tied for second in the majors with five steals.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), ROOT Sports Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Andrew Triggs (1-0, 2.53 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Mike Leake (2-0, 3.00)
Triggs has looked good while giving up just eight hits in 10 2/3 innings in his first two efforts since returning from last July's season-ending hip surgery. The 29-year-old received a no-decision against Texas in his season debut and followed up by defeating the Los Angeles Angels. Triggs is 0-1 with an 8.53 ERA in three career appearances against the Mariners, with the setback coming last season when he compiled a 5.91 ERA in two turns.
Leake allowed just eight hits in 12 innings while beating Cleveland and Minnesota in his first two starts. The 30-year-old allowed two runs in seven innings in a home win over the Indians to improve to 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA in five starts at Safeco Field since being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals last August 30. Leake is 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA in three career starts against the Athletics, including a victory last Sept. 1 when he gave up two runs and eight hits over seven innings in his Seattle debut.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mariners went 12-7 versus the Athletics last season and won seven of the 10 meetings at Safeco Field.
2. Oakland C Jonathan Lucroy, who went 3-for-5 and scored twice in Wednesday's victory, is a blistering 19-for-38 with two homers and eight RBIs against Leake.
3. Seattle LF Ben Gamel (oblique) is expected to make his season debut.