SEATTLE — After probably the most profitable month in franchise historical past, the Seattle Mariners would possibly choose if August simply by no means ended and rolled proper into October.
“There’s like 60 days in August isn’t there? I wish there was,” supervisor Scott Servais quipped. “What a month.”
What a month certainly,. The Mariners closed out the winningest month in staff historical past by beating the Oakland Athletics 5-4 on Wednesday and shifting again into sole possession of the AL West lead.
J.P. Crawford dropped a two-run single into left area within the seventh inning to place Seattle forward, and the Mariners rallied from a pair of deficits.
Seattle went 21-6 within the month, bettering the earlier franchise report of 20 victories in a month. The Mariners have gained 13 of their final 15 video games and can head into September in the midst of an AL West title race with Houston and Texas. The Mariners are one proportion level forward of the Astros, with the Rangers one recreation again.
The final time Seattle went into September with at the least a share of first place was 2001, additionally the final time the Mariners gained the AL West.
PHOTOS: Mariners shut out August with 21 wins after rallying previous Oakland for 5-4 victory
“Twenty-one wins in a month and there was a really special team here that won 116 games one year and they didn’t even do that,” Servais stated, referencing Seattle‘s 2001 staff that had 4 months of 20 victories throughout that record-setting season.
Teoscar Hernández capped his sizzling month with a three-run homer within the third inning – his twenty third of the season – that erased an 3-0 deficit. But it was Crawford who got here by way of after Seattle fell behind 4-3.
The Mariners’ rally within the seventh inning got here off reliever Kirby Snead (1-2), who had not allowed an earned run in his earlier 10 appearances. Dominic Canzone doubled, Mike Ford singled and Dylan Moore walked to load the bases.
Following a strikeout, Crawford hit a gentle liner the other approach to rating a pair and provides Seattle the lead. Crawford is 7 for 11 this season when hitting with the bases loaded.
“J.P. is going to put the ball in play and he’s not going to try to do too much in those spots,” Servais stated. “He’s learned that through the years and I think it’s a great example for our younger players to look at.”
Justin Topa (4-4) received the victory regardless of giving up the lead within the seventh. Aledmys Díaz lined a ground-rule double down the left area line and Esteury Ruiz adopted along with his personal double that hardly eluded the dive of Eugenio Suárez at third base. Pinch-runner Nick Allen scored simply and Oakland had a 4-3 lead.
Oakland tried so as to add on however Ruiz was thrown out at house plate by Hernández making an attempt to attain on Ryan Noda’s flyout to proper area. It was Hernández’s twelfth help this season, most amongst AL outfielders.
Ruiz was initially dominated protected however the name was overturned on replay.
“I was surprised when he was called safe but I know I made a really, really good throw I’m glad they overturned it,” Hernández stated.
Matt Brash labored by way of the eighth, placing out pinch-hitter Tony Kemp to finish the inning with Brent Rooker standing at third because the tying run. Andrés Muñoz pitched the ninth for his eleventh save in 14 possibilities.
Oakland scored 3 times within the second inning off Bryce Miller, together with Lawrence Butler’s two-run homer and Noda’s RBI single. Miller threw six innings, permitting seven hits and struck out 5.
“For Butler, today was a good day. Saw him pull the ball the other way, saw him pull a homer. We’ve heard a lot about his ability to drive the baseball. It showed again today,” Oakland supervisor Mark Kotsay stated.
Seattle’s three-run outburst within the third inning got here with two outs and was the one harm towards Zach Neal, who allowed three hits in 5 innings and struck out six.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: RHP Freddy Tarnok underwent proper hip surgical procedure on Wednesday. He is anticipated to be prepared for the beginning of spring coaching subsequent season.
Mariners: CF Julio Rodríguez missed his second straight recreation with a sore left foot. Rodríguez was a late scratch earlier than Tuesday’s recreation after growing nerve subject within the foot. Servais stated postgame he hopes Rodríguez will probably be again within the lineup someday in the course of the collection in New York towards the Mets … RHP George Kirby will slot again into the rotation someday throughout Seattle’s upcoming collection towards the Mets. Kirby was the scheduled starter Tuesday however was scratched on account of sickness.
UP NEXT
Athletics: Following a time off, the A’s will open a collection at house towards the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. LHP JP Sears (2-11, 4.80) will begin the opener towards LHP Patrick Sandoval (7-10, 3.95) for the Angels.
Mariners: After an off day, Seattle opens a 10-game journey on the New York Mets on Friday. Seattle has not set its rotation for the collection.
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