By Morris Phillips

You have to be in it to win it, and so far in 2014, the starting rotation is keeping the A’s in it.

Even without the sidelined duo of Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin, the A’s starters haven’t missed a beat, ranking first in quality starts in the major leagues, with only Tommy Milone once allowing more than three runs in a start.

Sonny Gray had quality written all over his performance Saturday, allowing five hits and a run over seven innings in the A’s 3-1 win over the Mariners that allowed Oakland to switch places with Seattle atop the AL West.

Make no mistake, in the numbers-dominated universe of major league baseball, quality is quality. Even without Parker or Griffin or the departed Brett Anderson and Bartolo Colon for that matter, the A’s haven’t missed a beat. When compared to the club’s above average bullpen, average defense, and always dangerous, quick strike offense–through 11 games–the Oakland starters clearly stand out. Hardly the manner in which the club projected coming into the season, the Athletics have pitched in every ballgame, winning 7 of 11, and dropping the other four by two runs or fewer.

Gray’s third start went much like his first two: what little he allowed, he gave up in the first three frames, and was lights out after that. The first-round selection from Vanderbilt struck out nine, walked two and lowered his ERA to 0.95. Gray allowed a run in the first, showed the heat after that, striking out Robinson Cano and Dustin Ackley with gas in the fourth, and mixing in off-speed stuff towards the end. If anyone was negatively impacted by the Billy Beane’s off-season moves that allowed Colon and Anderson to move on, it wasn’t Gray. Thus far, he looks like an ace with the variety and consistency to match either of the departed veterans.

Gray got all the support he needed early as well: Josh Donaldson deposited Erasmo Ramirez’ mistake fastball deep into the left field bleachers at Safeco Park with Coco Crisp aboard in the first inning. Brandon Moss added what could be termed insurance in the third, singling in Crisp before getting thrown out trying to stretch his fortune into a double.

Manager Bob Melvin figured to be creative with his bullpen given Jim Johnson’s demotion and he was, tabbing Sean Doolittle for four outs, and Luke Gregerson for the last two outs and the save. Gregerson allowed a couple of singles, but then struck out Michael Saunders and got John Buck to ground out to end it.

Prior to the game, Sam Fuld was designated for assignment as the team activated Craig Gentry, the outfielder acquired from the Rangers. In a move that supports the A’s belief in pitching and defense, the A’s kept offensive passengers Daric Barton (.100) and Josh Reddick (.091) on the roster because their defense compliments the outstanding pitching. Barton came in for defense late, and Reddick cut off Logan Morrison’s drive to the wall and quickly returned the ball to the infield, preventing Kyle Seager from attempting to score from first base. Gray took it from there, striking out Ackley to end the fourth.

The A’s turn to Scott Kazmir on Sunday for the rubber match of this three-game series with treetop Chris Young pitching for the Mariners.