Mariners 6, Athletics 1
Kendrys Morales hit a three-run homer and Joe Saunders continued his home pitching success as Seattle beat Oakland for the second time in the three-game series.
Jason Bay also homered, Jesus Montero had a run-scoring single and Kyle Seager contributed a sacrifice fly as the Mariners won for the ninth time in 13 games. The Athletics have lost six of seven games and went 3-7 on a 10-game road trip.
Saunders (3-4) gave up one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings to improve to 3-0 at home. He has a 0.94 ERA in four starts at Safeco Field.
Morales smacked his homer off Tommy Milone (3-5) in the first inning to get the Mariners started. Luke Montz had a run-scoring double in the second for Oakland before Seattle added runs on Montero’s fourth-inning single, Seager’s fifth-inning fly and Bay’s seventh-inning blast over the center-field fence.
Milone allowed five runs and six hits in five innings while losing his fifth straight start.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The homer was the first for Morales since April 23. … Oakland OF Coco Crisp (hamstring) could return to action by the middle of the week. … Often-injured Mariners CF Franklin Gutierrez (hamstring) is close to beginning a rehab stint and manager Eric Wedge said Gutierrez won’t return to the club until he displays he is fully healthy.