Teoscar Hernandez hit a three-run homer as the Seattle Mariners rallied for a 5-4 victory against the visiting Oakland Athletics on Wednesday afternoon to remain in a tie for first place in the American League West.
It was the Mariners' 21st victory in August, a franchise record for wins in a month.
Lawrence Butler went deep for the cellar-dwelling A's, who have lost four of their past five games.
Mariners reliever Justin Topa (4-4) earned the victory with Andres Munoz pitching the ninth for his 11th save of the season.
Trailing 4-3, Seattle took the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Dominic Canzone led off with a double to right off reliever Kirby Snead (1-2). Mike Ford then lined a single to center and Dylan Moore walked to load the bases. With one out, J.P. Crawford looped a single to left, scoring Canzone and pinch runner Jose Caballero to give the Mariners their first lead of the game.
The Athletics took a 3-0 lead in the second off Mariners rookie Bryce Miller, who had allowed one run over 12 innings in two previous starts against Oakland.
Jordan Diaz grounded a single to right and, an out later, Butler homered to right-center field. With two outs, Esteury Ruiz singled to right, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Cal Raleigh. Ruiz scored on Ryan Noda's double to center.
The Mariners tied it in the third as Eugenio Suarez drew a two-out walk and Raleigh doubled to right. Hernandez followed with a homer to left.
The A's regained the lead in the seventh off Topa as Aledmys Diaz and Ruiz hit back-to-back doubles with one out. But the Mariners rallied in the bottom of the inning to pull ahead.
Miller put together a quality start, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings. The right-hander didn't walk a batter and struck out five.
A's right-hander Zach Neal, making just his second start since 2016, went five innings and gave up three runs on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
--Field Level Media
Oakland | Seattle | |
Zach Neal | Player | Bryce Miller |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
5.0 | IP | 6.0 |
6 | Strikeouts | 5 |
3 | Hits | 7 |
5.40 | ERA | 4.50 |
Oakland | Seattle | |
Esteury Ruiz | Player | Mike Ford |
2 | Hits | 1 |
1 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
3 | TB | 1 |
.667 | Avg | .500 |