Mariners Game Recap: The Mariners Steal a Win from the Athletics

April 24, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Norichika Aoki (8) runs to third in the first inning against Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
April 24, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Norichika Aoki (8) runs to third in the first inning against Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Mariners took game one of the three game series against the Athletics by bending but not breaking, in classic Mariners form.

The Seattle Mariners (14-11) held on to win game one of the series against the Oakland Athletics (13-14) on Monday evening at the Oakland Coliseum. The Mariners jumped out to a 4-1 lead but the Athletics battled back to make it a close contest at 4-3. Nate Karns (3-1, 3.81 ERA) earned the win for the Mariners, and Kendall Graveman (1-3, 4.40 ERA) took the loss for the Athletics.  Steve Cishek shut the door in the ninth to secure his 7th save.

Nate Karns began the game having given up three home runs in four starts.  He gave up a solo home run to Khris Davis in the bottom of the second to give the A’s a 1-0 lead.   The Mariners would tie and then give him the lead at 4-1.  Karns settled down and seemed to coast for the next couple of innings.  Then in the 7th, Josh Reddick singled and Khris Davis crushed a Karns curve ball over the center field fence to bring the Athletics back to within one run at 4-3.   After a Stephen Vogt double with no outs in the 7th, Mariners skipper took the ball from Karns and handed it to Vidal Nuño.  He would retire Mark Coghlan. Then Nick Vincent would take the hill and retire Mark Canha and Yonder Alonso to end the threat.  Joel Peralta pitched a perfect 1-2-3 8th inning.

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The Mariners scoring started in the top of the 4th as Robinson Cano led off with a line drive double over the head of the center fielder.  Nelson Cruz followed with a single.  Then Adam Lind hit a screaming line drive single to center field that would score Cano.    With Nelson Cruz at third in the 6th, Kyle Seager doubled to right field to plate him.  Chris Iannetta would follow suit with a single to right to score Seager.  In the 7th, Nori Aoki doubled down the left field line.  He then stole third and the A’s catcher, Stephen Vogt, threw the ball down the left field line.  Then after getting stepped on by third baseman, Mark Canha, Aoki popped up and ran home for the Mariners fourth run.  It would prove to be the game winner.

Steve Cishek made it a little exciting in the ninth inning.  He got the first two outs fairly quickly then struck out the third batter Vogt, but the ball in the dirt got away from Chris Iannetta.  With Vogt at first, Coghlan would draw a full count and walk.  But Cishek would end the threat with a strikeout of Jed Lowrie.

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Nate Karns bent but didn’t break.  The Mariners offense took the lead.  Leadoff hitter Nori Aoki went 2 for 4 and Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz stayed hot by each going 3 for 4.  The Mariners bullpen came in and did their job to seal the deal.  This win puts the Mariners on the cusp of winning their sixth series in a row.  Something last accomplished by the 2011 Mariners that won 116 games.  The Mariners are now three games above .500 and stay a half game back of the Texas Rangers in the American League West.

Next: Mariners Analysis: Felix Hernandez's Top 5 Performances

Looking ahead to Tuesday, the Seattle Mariners (14-11) look to win the series in Oakland against the Athletics (13-14). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm from the Oakland Coliseum on Tuesday night. Hisashi Iwakuma (0-3, 4.65 ERA) will make the start for Seattle in the second game of the series, and Sonny Gray (3-2, 3.81 ERA) will be on the bump for the A’s. Root Sports Northwest will televise the game locally, and MLB.tv subscribers can watch worldwide on connected devices.