Sep 3, 2024; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics left fielder Seth Brown (15) hits a game-winning single against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
The Oakland Athletics have recorded wins in the first two meetings of a four-game series with Seattle, continuing the Mariners’ recent struggles in close games.
The host Athletics will look to deal another blow to Seattle’s playoff hopes on Wednesday night when the American League West rivals meet in Game 3 of the series.
Oakland’s latest at-bat has been a time-killing affair in this series, as it cruised to a 5-4 win on Monday and a 3-2 victory on Tuesday. Shea Langeliers hit a game-winning homer in the opener and Seth Brown was the hero on Tuesday with an RBI single.
“To get another win like we had tonight was fantastic,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “It’s always great to be on the winning side.”
The Mariners have lost four straight. Seattle is 5-6 since manager Dan Wilson took over, and all six losses have been by one run.
“It’s tough to get two wins in a row,” Wilson said afterward. “… It was a close game, but it was tough to lose again.”
The ill-timed skid has seen the Mariners (69-70) fall 6 1/2 games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West with just 23 games remaining.
In the wild-card race, Seattle is 5 1/2 games behind the Kansas City Royals for the third wild-card spot. The Mariners are also behind the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox, both 4 1/2 games behind Kansas City.
Right-hander Luis Castillo, who pitched seven solid innings Tuesday, isn’t ready to give up either run.
“It’s never too late,” Castillo said through an interpreter. “If we have a chance and the playoffs are in our hands, we’ll get there. What we can do is come here and keep working.”
Cal Raleigh hit a two-run double to give Seattle the run and raise his RBI tally to 84, breaking the franchise single-season record for a catcher set by Wilson (83 in 1996).
Oakland (61-78) has won six of its last nine games.
On Tuesday, Brown went 3-for-4 and hit his 13th homer of the season. Lawrence Butler hit his 21st of the season.
Brown was demoted for three and a half weeks earlier this season when he was struggling. Since returning to the majors on July 11, he has raised his batting average from .189 to .242.
“Just being on a baseball field is something special,” Brown said. “When you can do it on this stage with these guys, it makes you go to sleep at night thinking about how lucky you are to have done it.”
Seattle right-hander George Kirby (10-10, 3.63 ERA) will face Oakland left-hander JP Sears (11-9, 4.21) on Wednesday.
Kirby, 26, is 4-0 with a 4.12 ERA in seven career starts against the A’s. He beat Oakland on June 4, when he allowed two runs and six hits in five innings.
JJ Bleday (4-for-6), Zack Gelof (3-for-5) and Brent Rooker (3-for-9) homered off Kirby.
Kirby defeated the Los Angeles Angels on Friday despite allowing five runs and five hits, including three home runs, in 5 2/3 innings.
Sears is 7-2 with a 3.06 ERA in his last 10 starts. He has allowed one run or fewer six times during that span.
Sears, 28, defeated the Texas Rangers on Friday when he allowed one run and five hits in seven innings.
Sears lost to the Mariners on June 6, when he allowed two runs and three hits in six innings. He is 2-2 with a 1.86 ERA in seven career starts (six appearances) against Seattle.
Julio Rodriguez is just 3-for-16 against Sears, while Mitch Haniger is 1-for-6 with a homer.
–Field level media
