Lawrence Butler turned a rough weekend back in the Athletics’ favor Sunday, launching a two-run walk-off homer in the ninth for an 8-7 win over the Seattle Mariners at Sutter Health Park.
Butler’s second homer of the game erased a 7-6 deficit and gave the A’s the series win. The Athletics bounced back one day after a 19-1 loss to Seattle.
Zack Gelof opened the ninth with a single against Andrés Muñoz. Then Butler drove a 3-1 pitch to right-center for his 16th homer, ending the game before Seattle recorded an out.
Butler finished 2-for-4 with two homers, four RBIs and two runs. Gelof went 2-for-3 with three runs, two RBIs and two walks.
Butler delivers twice
Gelof and Butler gave the A’s an immediate lead with back-to-back homers in the first.
Gelof hit his 18th with two outs. Butler followed with his 15th, sending another 405-foot drive out to right-center for a 2-0 advantage.
However, Seattle answered. Randy Arozarena tied the game with a two-run homer in the third before the Mariners scored three times in the fourth.
Jacob Lopez could not escape that inning. Jhonny Pereda’s sacrifice fly, J.P. Crawford’s RBI single and Arozarena’s RBI single pushed Seattle ahead 5-2.
Lopez was charged with five earned runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three.
Seattle added another run in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk to Pereda, stretching the deficit to 6-2.
Langeliers sparks the comeback
The Athletics finally broke through against Seattle’s bullpen in the seventh.
Alika Williams doubled and Henry Bolte was hit by a pitch. After Jeff McNeil reached on an overturned call at first, Gelof walked with the bases loaded to make it 6-3.
Butler followed with an RBI groundout. Then Shea Langeliers came off the bench and delivered the biggest hit of the rally.
Langeliers singled to right, scoring McNeil and Gelof to tie the game 6-6.
Seattle moved back ahead in the eighth when Arozarena hit his second homer of the afternoon off Hogan Harris.
The A’s nearly answered immediately. Williams doubled and reached third on a throwing error, but Muñoz stranded him there.
One more answer
Elvis Alvarado kept the deficit at one with a scoreless ninth. He allowed a two-out single to Josh Naylor before retiring Cole Young on a forceout.
That gave the top of the order one more chance.
Gelof singled on Muñoz’s first pitch in the bottom half. Butler then worked the count in his favor before ending it with a 402-foot homer.
The blast completed Butler’s four-RBI afternoon and gave Alvarado his fifth win.
The Athletics improved to 61-89 and took two of three from Seattle.
Up next
The A’s are off Monday before beginning a road series against Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
The series opener is scheduled for 3:40 p.m. PT.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, 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.
