The Athletics had a chance to hold the division at home. Instead, Seattle took it from them.
The Mariners completed a three-game sweep Wednesday with a 9-1 win at Sutter Health Park. As a result, the A’s fell to 27-29, dropped out of first place and slipped a half-game behind Seattle in the AL West.
Early damage again
Seattle jumped on Jeffrey Springs in the first inning.
J.P. Crawford singled, and Josh Naylor reached on a Jeff McNeil throwing error. Then Rob Refsnyder hit a three-run homer with two outs, giving the Mariners a 3-0 lead.
The Mariners added two more in the fourth. Cole Young singled, Jhonny Pereda walked and Colt Emerson drove both in with a triple to right.
Springs took the loss and fell to 3-6. He allowed five runs, two earned, on six hits over five innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Nothing comes easy
The A’s had chances, but they could not cash them in.
Shea Langeliers singled and Tyler Soderstrom walked in the fourth, but Henry Bolte grounded into a double play. Then Zack Gelof doubled in the fifth, and Carlos Cortes walked, but Nick Kurtz flew out to end the inning.
The Athletics finished 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. They scored only four runs in the series. They scored only four runs in the series while Seattle outscored them 22-4 across the three-game sweep.
Seattle adds on
Seattle made it 6-0 in the sixth when Young scored on a throwing error by Darell Hernaiz.
Then Julio Rodríguez put the game away in the eighth. His three-run homer off Luis Medina stretched the lead to 9-0.
The A’s finally scored in the ninth. Jonah Heim walked, Bolte singled and McNeil grounded into a double play that brought Heim home.
Numbers that mattered
The A’s had eight hits, but none produced an RBI hit.
Gelof went 2-for-4 with a double. Hernaiz also had two hits, while Soderstrom doubled and walked.
Seattle had 13 hits. Refsnyder and Rodríguez each drove in three, and Emerson added two RBIs.
Up next
The Athletics are off Thursday before opening a three-game series against the Yankees on Friday at Sutter Health Park.
Luis Severino is scheduled to start for the A’s. He enters 2-5 with a 4.23 ERA and 64 strikeouts. New York is set to counter with Carlos Rodón, who is 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA and 17 strikeouts.
Related stories
Athletics Spark Buzz with Potential Royals Trade for All-Star Pitcher Boasting a 3.76 ERA
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
