by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s played another one-run game Monday night. This time, it was against the Seattle Mariners and the outcome was not a happy one as they lost 4-3. Kendall Graveman started for the A’s and went six and one-third innings. He gave up four runs on ten hits and saw his record drop to 1-3. Nate Karns pitched for Seattle, and he won his third game of the year for the Mariners. Karns allowed three runs on six hits. The A’s Khris Davis hit two dingers to drive in all three runs they A’s scored.

The A’s jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. A’s left fielder Khris Davis lined a home run to left over the 367-foot sign. For Davis, it was his fourth home run of the year and his first at the Coliseum.

The Mariners tied the game in the top of the fourth. Robinson Cano doubled to start the frame. Nelson Cruz singled to right center. Cano did not score as he had to hold up to make sure the ball dropped safely for a hit. Mariner first baseman, Adam Lind, followed with a single to drive in Cano. Graveman threw four pitches and three were whacked for hits. Graveman retired Kyle Seager on a fly to left for the first out of the inning, and Chris Iannetta’s fly out to center was turned into a double play as Billy Burns’ throw to third nailed Cruz for the final out of the inning.

The Mariners scored two runs on four hits in the top of the sixth. Cano singled to start the Mariners’ rally. Nelson Cruz followed with his third hit of the night to put men on at first and second with no out. Adam Lind hit into a double play. Cano advanced to third on the play and scored when Kyle Seager doubled to right. Chris Iannetta singled to drive in Seager to put Seattle ahead 3-1 in the middle of the sixth. Seattle added another run in the top of the seventh. Nori Aoki doubled with one out. He stole third and scored when Stephen Vogt’s throw to third went for an error.  In the bottom of the seventh, the A’s scored twice in their half of the seventh. Josh Reddick led off with a single. He scored when Khris Davis hit a monster home run to deep left centerfield. The ball landed near the TV cameras. For Davis, it was his second home run of the night and fifth of the year. Stephen Vogt followed with a double, but the A’s failed to get a hit to drive him in to tie the score. Seattle leads 4-3 after seven.

The A’s bullpen kept Seattle off the board in the eighth and ninth. The A’s rally in the ninth fell short when Mariner closer Steve Cishek struck out Jed Lowrie to end the game.

Game Notes- The A’s record is now 13-14 while Seattle improves to 14-11. Texas won again to remain in first place. Seattle currently resides in second place, and the A’s are still in third as the Angels and Astros lost their games Monday night.

The A’s will send their ace, Sonny Gray, to the mound Tuesday night. Seattle will counter with Hisashi Iwakuma. Gray will be trying to win his fourth of the year, and Iwakuma will be seeking his first.

Time of game was two hours and forty-five minutes, and there were 10,535 devoted A’s fans in the stands to watch the game. Game time Tuesday night will be at 7:05 pm PT and fans should get here early as the Warriors are playing the Portland Trail Blazers next door at the Oracle Arena at 7:30.