By Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland- The visiting Seattle Mariners beat the A’s Monday night 7-1 behind A’s killer Felix Hernandez six innings of two-hit ball. Hernandez allowed just one run, and that came on Marcus Semien’s eighth blast of the season. Daniel Gossett started for the A’s, and he exited the game in the fifth inning with just one out. The Mariners tagged him for four home runs, and all seven of their runs were a result of the homers. Gossett, coming into the game, had allowed sixteen in just 84 innings of work. He has now allowed twenty in less than ninety innings. His record is now 4-10 for the year. His position in the rotation for next season may be in jeopardy.

The Mariners scored three in the second, one in the third, one in the fourth, and two in the fifth. Mitch Haniger hit two, Mike Zunino had one, and our old friend, Yonder Alonso hit his twenty-sixth of the year and the first against his former teammates.

The A’s only tally came in the sixth when Semien hit a solo home run to get the A’s on the board. The Mariners’ Feliz Hernandez won his sixth game of the year and improved to 6-5. Felix went six innings and allowed just two hits and one run. Hernadez is bow 25-9 lifetime against the A’s. He is now 13-3 at the Coliseum and has passed Tommy John for most all-time by a visiting pitcher. John was 12-6 against the A’s here in Oakland.

Daniel Mengden (2-1) will go for Oakland Tuesday night. Mengden has been brilliant in his last two starts, and A’s manager Bob Melvin hopes the Mengden can continue to do well. Seattle will counter with lefty James Paxton. Paxton is 12-5 with an ERA of 3.03. Game time will be at 7:05 Tuesday night.

The A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell, who played Monday, knelt for the third game in a row as the Star-spangled Banner was played. Teammate Mark Canha showed his support as he placed his hand on Maxwell’s shoulder. The fans at the Coliseum also gave Maxwell a lot of love each time he came to bat. The Anthem was played by the Oakland Unified Marching Band and many members of the band played their instruments while kneeling. The band’s protest probably will make the news locally and nationally.

Injury Report- First baseman Matt Olson suffered a grade 2 hamstring injury that will probably sideline him for the rest of the season. Chad Pinder and Boog Powell are hoping to recover and come back and get on the field before the season ends but it may be doubtful as there are just six games left.

Time of game was a relatively quick two hours and twenty-two minutes. Attendance was a meager 9,329, one of the smallest crowds of the year.