The Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriquez slugs a fifth inning single against the Oakland A’s at T Mobile Park in Seattle on Mon May 23, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Seattle Mariners welcomed the Oakland A’s to T-Mobile Park Monday night for three games. The Mariners dominated Oakland last year as they won 15 of the 19 games. Seattle continued their dominance as they won their 13th consecutive game over the A’s 7-6. 

The Mariners used the long ball to earn the victory. A’s starter, lefty Zach Logue, gave up three big flys to the M’s. Seattle’s centerfielder, Julio Rodriguez, blasted a three-run shot in the bottom of the third to give the M’s an early 3-0 advantage.

The A’s rallied to tie the game in the top of the fourth. Chad Pinder hit a solo homer to make it 3-1. With one out, catcher Sean Murphy doubled. First baseman Christian Bethancourt singled to send Murphy to third.

Kevin Smith followed with a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Murphy with the A’s second run. Bethancourt advanced to third when Elvis Andrus singled. Tony Kemp followed with a single to drive in Bethancourt with the inning’s third run.

The tie didn’t last long as Seattle put two more on the board in their half of the fourth. With one out, A’s starter Zach Logue walked Luis Torrens. Logue then served up a gopher ball to the M’s catcher Cal Raleigh to make it a 5-3 game.

The Mariners increased the lead to 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth. Again, with one out, Logue walked Julio Rodriguez. The next hitter, Eugenio Suarez, took Logue deep. A’s manager removed Logue from the game. Domingo Acevedo came in from the bullpen and retired the next two hitters.

The A’s sent nine men to the plate in the top of the sixth. The A’s had four hits in the frame, and three men scored. The big hit was a double off the bat of rookie Cristian Pache. The A’s trail 7-6.

There was no more scoring in the game. The A’s relievers, A.J.Puk, Lou Trivino, and Sam Moll, kept the M’s bats quiet. The M’s bullpen did their job, too. The A’s bats went to sleep after the sixth as they wound up losing 7-6 to Seattle.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are now 17-27, ten games under .500. The Mariners improved to 18-25. 

The A’s have now lost 13 consecutive games to the Mariners. They hope to get back on the winning track Tuesday night. 

The time of the game was 3:24. There were 14, 415 fans in the park to watch the M’s take down the A’s. Starting pitchers on Tuesday night at T Mobile Field in Seattle for the A’s James Kaprielian (0-2 ERA 4.50) and for the Seattle Mariners George Kirby (0-1, 3.60) a 6:40 pm PDT first pitch.