by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s beat the  Seattle Mariners in the first game of a four-game set by a score of 4-0. The game featured a matchup of two left-handed pitchers. Scott Kazmir  was on the hill for the A’s and he was opposed by the Mariners’ Roenis Elias. The A’s have had trouble against lefties so far this year as they have won just four games against fourteen losses. Kazmir made sure that the A’s did not lose as he was dominant. He retired thirteen men in a row before Franklin Gutierrez doubled off him in the fifth. Kazmir gave up one more hit and the man getting to him was Gutierrez. Kazmir went eight innings allowing two hits, no runs and seven strikeouts while throwing 105 pitches. Elias pitched well but not well enough.

The A’s scored two runs in the bottom of the first. With two out, Mariners’ hurler, Roenis Elias, walked Ben Zobrist. The next hitter, Country breakfast Billy Butler doubled to put men on at second and third. A’s catcher Josh Phegley  followed with a double to drive in Zobrist and Butler. A’s lead 2-0 after one inning of play.

The A’s added a run in the bottom of the fifth. Mariners’ starter Roenis Elias had retired twelve men in a row after he gave up two runs in the first.Marcus Semien broke the spell when he drove one of Elias’ pitches over the left field wall.  Seventh home run of the year for Semien. A’s lead 3-0.

The A’s took a 4-0 lead in the seventh. With two out, A’s left fielder Mark Canha blasted a triple off the center-field wall to drive in Brett Lawrie with the run. Kazmir shut the Mariners down in the eighth and Edward Mujica  pitched a perfect ninth inning to secure the win for Oakland.

Game  Notes- The A’s have won three out of the last four and twelve of the last eighteen. They are 23-15 dating back to May 23rd. With the win, Kazmir evened his record at 5-5 and the A’s improved to 37-45while Seattle dropped to 36-43. After the game, A’s manager said this about Kazmir. This is the “best that we’ve seen him here.” Melvin said that he “thought about it” when asked why Kazmir didn’t go out to start the ninth inning.  When asked about trade rumors regarding Kazmir, he said that  he doesn’t know what will transpire but Kazmir ” likes it here” and that he is “a leader in the clubhouse.”  If the A’s get back into the race, Kazmir may not be moved.

The A’s meet the Mariners again Friday night at the O.co Coliseum at 7:05 pm ET. Right-hander Jesse Chavez will go for the Green and Gold while Seattle will send  out lefty J.A.Happ to handle the pitching chores.

Time of game was a swift two hours and seventeen minutes and 13,062 were on hand to watch Kazmir’s brilliant performance.