The Oakland A’s Lawrence Butler (4) scores in front of the Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (left) at T Mobile Field in Seattle on Sat May 11, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

In game two of the A’s three game series with the Seattle Mariners (21-19), Oakland (19-22) turned the tables on Seattle. Losing 8-1 in game one, it was the A’s whose offense was lit winning game two 8-1.

Oakland had a great offensive and defensive effort. A’s pitcher Joey Estes had a great game going five innings allowing two hits, one run and no walks with 5 strikeouts. Relief pitching was terrific putting the icing on the cake in the final four frames.

Game recap: The Mariners were first up on the scoreboard in the second inning. Cal Raleigh knocked the ball out of the park, a solo shot, to take the early 1-0 lead. Oakland got some offense going in the third inning. Lawrence Butler walked and Brett Harris singled with Abraham Toro at the plate with no outs. Toro singled driving Butler home and this game was tied 1-1. With two outs Brent Rooker singled and Harris scored giving Oakland a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the third inning. The A’s had strung some hits together in the early innings with some nice offensive production.

A pitching duel ensued through the next four frames and going into the eighth inning the Oakland offense lit up. Max Schuemann doubled driving three runners, Kyle McCann, Esteury Ruiz and Brent Rooker home, taking a 5-1 lead. The A’s would tack on another run in the ninth inning. Brett Harris crossed home plate on a wild pitch from Seattle’s Eduard Bazardo for a 6-1 tally. Oakland had more in store for the Mariners when JJ Bleday homered with Abraham Toro on base extending their lead to 8-1 this time in favor of Oakland. In game one the Mariners finished with an 8-1 win and tonight Oakland flipped the script; it was the A’s who were crushing the Mariners, the final score 8-1.

Oakland had a solid night on the mound. Starting pitcher for the A’s Joey Estes finished the game going five innings allowing only two hits, one run and 5 strikeouts. Relief pitching was also top notch. Only one hit was allowed in the final four innings closing out this game in style. The A’s had definitely gotten their revenge after last nights loss and now had the opportunity to win this series in tomorrow’s rubber match.

The A’s had nine hits in this game hanging onto the 2-1 lead going into the eighth inning. Oakland broke this game wide open in the eighth frame scoring 3 runs and in the ninth inning three more runs for the 8-1 final score. They scored their first five runs without a home run. Going into the ninth inning however, JJ Bleday hit the long ball and finished off this game with a 2-run homer.

Post game notes: Friday night the A’s got shellacked by the Mariners narrowly avoiding a shut out scoring in the ninth inning. Lawrence Butler singled Kyle McCann home for the single Oakland run in the ninth inning for a final score of 8-1.

The Mariners went crazy in the fifth inning scoring five runs at the expense of A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn. Seattle would go on to burn Blackburn for two more runs before he was relieved in the game. Oakland got some payback in game two of the series turning the tables on the Mariners.

The A’s got better offensive production in the early innings. They did start hitting in the latter innings of game one but were stagnant in the early frames. Joey Estes took the mound for the A’s pitching over five innings giving up two hits and one earned run. The M’s Bryce Miller started for Seattle pitched over six innings gave up five hits, two earned runs, two walks and struck out nine hits.

Oakland will finish off this series Sunday in game three looking to win the series. Alex Wood will take the mound for the A’s while Luis Castillo will get the nod for Seattle. First pitch for this rubber match is scheduled for 1:10 PM.

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