The Seattle Mariners base runner Luke Raley (20) is out while sliding underneath Oakland A’s second baseman Zack Gelof (20) who throws to first base for a top of the fifth inning double play at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Jun 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

The Seattle Mariners presented Manager Scott Servais with a 57th birthday gift Tuesday at the Coliseum, as the Mariners edged Oakland 4-3 before an announced crowd of 5,624.

Seattle held off a ninth-inning rally by the Athletics to improve its record to eight games above .500 (35-27) and raised it’s lead in the American League West to 5 1/2 games.

After a successful 6-1 homestead, the Mariners have won four games in a row and eight of their last nine.

Abraham Toro had a run-scoring single and JJ Bleday collected two base hits for the A’s, who have lost five of their last six games.

In the bottom of the ninth, Seattle reliever Andres Munoz threw a wild pitch that allowed to score. Munoz left the game with a possible injury, and Taylor Saucedo – the Mariners’ sixth pitcher – retired Brent Rooker on a comebacker for the final out and his second save.

The Mariners cracked four doubles off A’s starter Mitch Spence (4-3) in the third inning to build a 3-0 lead.

J.P. Crawford led off the Seattle third with double to right-center, Josh Rojas followed with a two-bagger over the head of A’s right fielder Seth Brown Ty France delivered a two-run double to right-center, and Luke Raley drove in France with the fourth double of the inning.

Rojas led the Seattle attack with three hits, followed by two from Raley. Rojas also drove in a run with an infield single.

Meanwhile, George Kirby (5-5) logged nine strikeouts in five innings for his first win in a month. He allowed two runs on six hits and a walk.

Off the diamond, the Athletics (24-38) transferred right-hander Paul Blackburn to the 60-day injured list (stress reaction – right foot), left-hander Sean Newcomb was reinstated from the 60-day IL, right-hander Vinny Nittoli was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas, and right-hander Aaron Brooks was outright to Las Vegas after being designated for assignment two days ago.

On Wednesday, Logan Gilbert (3-3, 3.29) starts for Seattle and Joey Estes (1-1, 6.10) is on the mound for the A’s.