The Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriguez celebrate with the M’s trident after clouting a home run in the bottom of the fourth inning home run against the Oakland A’s at T Mobile in Seattle on Mon Aug 27, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Seattle Mariners continued mastery over the A’s for the eighth straight time this season. The Mariners, the hottest team in baseball, beat the A’s 7-0 Monday night at T-Mobile Field in Seattle. The Mariners improved to 20-5 in August. The M’s superstar centerfielder Julio Rodriguez had his fifth four-hit game this month. J-Rod had a home run, a double, and two singles.

For the third game in a row, the A’s offense was nowhere to be found. The A’s managed four hits, three of which were singles. Seth Brown’s double with two out in the ninth was the only extra-base hit for the A’s. The A’s have yet to beat Seattle this season.

The A’s starter, lefty Kyle Muller, had nothing going for him Monday night. The Mariners have averaged six runs a game since August 2nd. The M’s potent offense scored six runs in the first four innings. The Mariners pitchers have the best collective ERA in baseball.

With the win, the M’s remain one game ahead of the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros in the race for the best American League West Division record. The Rangers beat the Mets and the Astros trounced the Boston Red Sox to keep pace with the Mariners.

The Mariners sent righty Brian Woo to the hill Monday night. Woo, born in Oakland and a graduate of Alameda High School and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, dazzled the A’s in his six innings of work. The M’s had him penciled in for 80 pitches maximum. The 23-year-old righty went six innings and allowed three singles. He struck out five and walked one. He threw 69 pitches and earned his second win.

The Mariners’ shortstop, J.P. Crawford, sent Muller’s second pitch of the game over the wall for his 12th dinger of the year. Muller escaped the first inning with no further damage.

The A’s scored three times in the bottom of the third. Crawford singled, leading off the inning. J-Rod doubled to drive in Crawford with the M’s second run. The double extended J-Rod’s hitting streak to 13 games. J-Rod reached third on a passed ball. Muller walked third baseman Eugenio Suarez to put men at first and third with no out.

Teoscar Hernandez singled to drive in J-Rod. Ty France singled to load the bases. Dylan Moore grounded into a fielder’s choice, and Suarez scored on the play. The Mariners led 4-0 after three complete.
Muller walked the leadoff hitter, J.P. Crawford, in the bottom of the fourth. J-Rod blasted his 24th home run of the year to make it a 6-0 game.

The Mariners added a run in the sixth to finish scoring for the night. The M’s bullpen kept the A’s from scoring in the game’s last three innings. The M’s win 7-0.

Game Notes- With the loss, the A’s dropped to 38-94. The Mariners improved to 75-46.

The line score for Oakland was no runs, four hits, and no errors. Kyle Muller was the losing pitcher.

The line score for Seattle was seven runs, 14 hits, and no errors. Brian Woo was the winning pitcher.

J-Rod was the hitting star for Seattle. He had a home run, double, and two singles. J.P. Crawford had a home run and a single. Eugenio Suarez had two doubles. Teoscar Hernandez had two singles.

The A’s will send Ken Waldichuk to the mound Tuesday night. Waldichuk (2-7 ERA 6.05) for the year. The M’s George Kirby (10-8 ERA 3.28) will pitch for Seattle. The game will start at 6:40 p.m. PT.
34, 434 fans saw the home team send the A’s down to defeat.