by Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s lost a golden opportunity to pick up a game on the Los Angeles Angels in the race for the AL West division lead as the A’s lost to the Mariners 6-5 while the Houston Astros beat the Angels

in Houston. The A’s Sonny Gray was looking for his fourteenth win of the year but the Mariners drove him to the showers after just five innings of work. Gray allowed six runs on seven hits and took his eighth loss of the year. Gray was 4-0 with an ERA of 1.10 in five starts against the Mariners. The win went to Mariners lefty James Paxton. Paxton’s record is now 5-1 for the season. Paxton kept the A’s at bay for 7 2/3rds innings as he allowed 2 runs on just four hits. The A’s were down 6-0 with two out in the eighth but rallied to score three runs and then in the ninth they scored two runs with two outs but

could not get the hit they needed to tie the game. Mariners closer, Fernando Rodney, notched his fortieth save of the year. With the loss, the A’s remain 4 ½ games behind and are 4 ½ games ahead of the Mariners in the race for the first wild card slot.

The Mariners scored two runs on just one hit in the top of the third. Sonny Gray walked the first two batters to put men on at first and second with no out. Mariners catcher, Jesus Sucre, bunted down the third baseline to move the runners up to second and third. Austin Jackson then singled to drive in both runners to give the Mariners a 2-0 lead.

Seattle put two more runs on the board in the top of the fourth Kendrys Morales singled to start the inning. He advanced to third on a double to left center off the bat of Logan Morrison to put men on at second and third. Endy Chavez hit a ground ball up the middle to drive in both men and Chavez was credited with a double when no one covered second base. Gray got the next two batters to end the inning. The A’s could not do anything in their half of the inning. After four complete, Seattle leads 4-0.

The Mariners scored two more runs in the top of the fifth. With two out, Robinson Cano singled to right field. Mariners’ clean up hitter, Kyle Seager, hit his twenty-first home run of the year into the right field bleachers to make it a 6-0 game in the middle of the fifth.

The A’s rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Derek Norris singled to start the inning.

That was followed by a walk to Nate Freiman. Geovany Soto hit into a double play with Norris advancing to third. Josh Reddick walked and at this point the Mariners’ manager Lloyd McClendon

took starter James Paxton out of the game and brought in righty Yoervis Medina. Bob Melvin sent Adam Dunn in to pinch hit and he came though with a single to drive in the A’s first run of the game.

Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and they came in to score on a double by Craig Gentry to

make it a 6-3 game. Jed Lowrie struck out to end the inning and the A’s trail 6-3 after eight complete.

In the ninth, the A’s rallied again with two outs. The Mariners brought in their closer, Fernando Rodney,

to end the game. Rodney struck out the first two men he faced but the A’s would not quit. Derek Norris doubled. That was followed by a pinch hit double by Brandon Moss to drive in Norris. Sam Fuld, pinch hitting for Geovany Soto ,doubled to drive in Moss. The crowd was on its feet hoping for a miracle but Josh Reddick ground out to end the game. A’s lose 6-5 to the Mariners.

The A’s conclude the three game series with the MarinersWednesday afternoon at the O.co Coliseum at 12:35pm.It will be a matchup of two of the best pitchers in the American League. Jon Lester will be on the hill for the A’s and the Mariners will counter with their ace, Felix Hernandez. Should be a great game.

Attendance was 23,859.