Oakland Athletics’ Mason Miller pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue May 2, 2023 (AP News photo)

Seattle. 000 000 020. – 2. 3. 0

Oakland 000. 001. 000 – 1. 3. 0

Time: 2:30

Attendance: 2,583

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Only 2,583 people paid to see the A’s fall 2-1 to the Seattle Mariners tonight. But those ticket holders got their money’s worth.

The visitors from the Puget Sound strode into the decrepit temporary home of the for the present Oakland Athletics in fourth place in the American League’s Western Division, sporting a record of 12-16, which would not have made them seem like a foreboding presence if it were for the their hosts’ pitiful mark of 6-23.

The Mariners’ starting pitcher, Bryce Miller, who throws from the starboard side, was making his major league debut. He’s highly ranked on just about everybody’s prospect list, and the M’s have indicated that tonight’s appearance isn’t a temporary call up.

In any case, it was a busy night for the 12th letter of the alphabet. The M’s put Miller on the mound, and the A’s went with Mason Miller (0-1, 6.48), another righty.

The Mariners’ Miller livedup to his advance billing. He threw 68 pitches over 5-1/3 innings, striking out 10, until Tony Kemp connected with his 69th offering, a 95.6 mph four seamer for a clean single to center to become Oakland’s first baserunner.

A wild pitch and a two bagger to left by Esteury Ruíz and the A’s were up, 1-0. Trevor Gott came out in place of the impressive newcomer to face the A’s in the bottom of the seventh. He walked Jace Petereson and gave up a single to Shea Langliers and then handed off the ball to Gabe Speier, who struck out Kevin Smith, Oakland’s Miller wasn’t having too shabby an outing either.

After seven innings, he’d thrown an even 100 pitches, and all Seattle had to show for it was four walks. The Athletics’ starter struck out a half a dozen Mariners.

He didn’t get a chance to finish up the job. Richard Lovelady got one out in the eighth. Then threw an 88.6 mph four seamer to AJ Pollock who sent it travelling at 107.1 mph 367 feet into the left field seats to tie the game at one on Seattle’s first hit. Lovelady had to pitch to his third batter, so José Caballero got the chance to double to left. Jeurys Familia came on, and he walked Ty France before allowing Jarred Keienic to double to right and put the Mariners ahead, 2-1.

Justin Topa set down the A’s in the eighth with only a base on balls to Kemp.

Shintaro Fujinami set the M’s down in order in the ninth, striking out two.

Paul Sewald was called on to. save the game for the Mariners. AL player of the week Brent Rooker went down swinging, as did Jace Peterson. Between those Ks, Laureano few out to left.

The win went to Gabe Speier, who had faced one batter, Kevin Smith, who struck out to end the seventh. Sewald got his eighth save, and Lovelady took the loss and a blown save.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, at 6:47, JP Sears (0-2, 6.23) will start for the A’s, and George Kirby (2-2,2.93) will face him for the M’s.