By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, September 29, 2016

AP photo: Oakland A’s reliever Liam Hendricks will have to wait another day to pick up his first win as Hendricks goes winless against the Seattle Mariners Thursday night at Safeco Field

Mike Zunino cranked a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning, leading Seattle past Oakland 3-2 Thursday and keeping the Mariners in the AL Wild Card pursuit.

Seattle is two games behind Baltimore and Toronto with three games to play. On Thursday, the Orioles blanked the Blue Jays 4-0, pulling Baltimore even for the first wild-card berth. Detroit, meanwhile, was rained out against Cleveland. The Tigers are ½ game ahead of Seattle.

A’s reliever Liam Hendriks (0-4) surrendered the go-ahead home run by Zunino in the bottom of the seventh. Ketel Marte’s RBI single in the eighth added another Mariners run.

M’s reliever Steve Cishek (4-6) snuffed out an Oakland threat in the seventh with an inning-ending double play and pitched a perfect eighth to get the win. Edwin Diaz had a shaky ninth, allowing an A’s run on three hits, but hung on for his 18th save.

Trailing 1-0, Chad Pinder tied the game with his first career home run, a leadoff blast off M’s starter Ariel Miranda.

Danny Valencia played right field for the Athletics and collected two hits, as did first baseman Yonder Alonso. Pinch-hitter Bruce Maxwell picked up his 14th RBI.

A’s starter Kendall Graveman worked 5 2/3 innings, giving up one earned run on seven hits. He struck out six, and walked one.

On Friday, Oakland will start right-hander Raul Alcantara (1-2, 5.75 ERA), who is making his fifth start since his Sept. 5 call-up from Triple-A Nashville. Seattle will counter with right-hander Taijuan Walker (7-11, 4.35 ERA).