Mariners 5, Athletics 3
Brendan Ryan laced the go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning as part of a three-RBI contest as visiting Seattle took two out of three from Oakland.
Ryan’s smash just inside the third-base line on an 0-2 pitch easily scored Kendrys Morales from second with the tying run, and Dustin Ackley raced home from first and narrowly beat an outstanding throw from Athletics left fielder Yoenis Cespedes. Ryan drove in an insurance run in the eighth on an infield single.
Hisashi Iwakuma (12-6) gave up three runs and seven hits in seven innings. Charlie Furbush and Yoervis Medina combined for a perfect eighth and Danny Farquhar struck out the side in the ninth for his ninth save to drop Oakland 2 1/2 games behind Texas in the American League West race and trim the Athletics’ edge over Cleveland for the second wild card to 2 1/2 games.
There were four homers over the first five innings as Oakland took a 3-2 lead. Coco Crisp and Brandon Moss hit solo homers for the Athletics and teammate Alberto Callaspo added a sacrifice fly, while Michael Morse and Brad Miller hit bases-empty shots for the Mariners.
Oakland’s A.J. Griffin (10-9) allowed four runs and five hits in six innings. The two homers allowed raised his count to 30, most in the majors.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Seattle 2B Nick Franklin (knee) and Oakland C Derek Norris (broken toe) both missed the game with injuries suffered in a play at the plate involving the two on Tuesday. … Athletics SS Jed Lowrie tripled for the second consecutive contest after not having one over his first 118 games. … Morse’s homer was just his second since May 27.