Athletics 8, Mariners 2: Stephen Drew belted a two-run homer and rookie A.J. Griffin tossed 5 2/3 solid innings as host Oakland posted its fifth straight victory over Seattle.

Coco Crisp returned to the lineup after missing nine starts with an eye infection and launched his fourth leadoff homer of the season for the Athletics, who remained two games ahead of Los Angeles with five to play in the race for the second American League wild card. Josh Donaldson's two-run single capped a wild four-run eighth inning for Oakland.

With the teams locked in a 1-1 tie in the third inning, Drew crushed a fastball from Blake Beavan (10-11) over the wall in right field for his fifth homer. The blast extended his hitting streak to eight games.

Griffin (7-1) snapped a two-start winless streak after allowing one run on four hits and striking out four.

Michael Saunders homered for the second time in four contests and Trayvon Robinson also went deep for the Mariners, who have dropped four of their last five.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Athletics pitcher Dallas Braden yelled at the Stockton (Calif.) police chief while carrying a bat during an anti-crime rally on Wednesday. An Oakland spokesman said that Braden would not face punishment from the team. ... Saunders returned to the team on Thursday, just three days removed from his wife giving birth to daughter Aria. ... The Athletics have won 11 of Griffin's 14 starts since the right-hander was called up in June.