Oakland A’s starter Joey Estes adjusts his hat after giving up a bottom of the fourth inning home run to Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh (foreground running the bases) at T Mobile Park in Seattle on Sat Sep 28, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (69-91) made a valiant effort to win their 70th game of the season but fell short in the tenth inning. Trailing 3-0 after three innings Oakland tied up the contest up in the sixth inning at 3-3. In the bottom of the ninth down 6-4 the A’s tied it up with two runs making 6-6. The Seattle Mariners (83-77) would win it in the bottom of the tenth 7-6 at T Mobile Park in Seattle.

Game recap: It was a pitchers duel through the first three innings of this game. Oakland had a chance in the first inning with two runners on base. Hancock walked Brent Rooker and allowed a JJ Bleday single with one out.

Shea Langeliers grounded into a double play to end the inning. The A’s Joey Estes allowed a Victor Robles double and walked Luke Raley but got out of the opening inning. Oakland had a single in the second inning and Seattle went three up and three out in the second as both pitchers had good starts. The A’s had the bases loaded in the third inning but came away empty squandering a great opportunity. The A’s Joey Estes had a three up three down third inning.

The A’s had nothing going offensively in the fourth inning. The Mariners broke the game open in the fourth starting off with a Cal Raleigh solo home run taking a 1-0 lead followed by Luke Raley advancing to first base after getting hit.

With no outs Estes allowed a Jorge Polanco single and Seattle had two runners on base. Estes got the next two at bats out but gave up a single to Victor Rojas driving J.P. Crawford and Raley home and Seattle had a 3-0 lead.

This game had turned sideways for Oakland but they righted the ship in the fifth inning. Brent Rooker hit his 39th home run of the season driving Max Schuemann and the A’s had something going trailing 3-2.

Tyler Soderstrom started off the sixth inning with a home run and this game was all tied up 3-3. The A’s had two runners on base in the sixth but left them stranded. Ross Stripling took over on the mound in the sixth inning in place of Estes and walked Mitch Haniger but dismissed the next three at bats.

Estes despite getting into a jam in the fourth inning had a pretty good showing going five innings allowing five hits, three runs, and two walks. He only had two strikeouts in the five innings. Seattle’s Emerson Hancock also went 5 1/3 innings allowing five hits three runs and four walks. He was relieved by JT Chargois and Tayler Saucedo to get out of the sixth inning.

Oakland went three up three down to start the seventh inning. Seattle would break the tie in the seventh inning. Luke Raley doubled driving Rodriguez home from first and with Jorge Polanco intentionally walked the Mariners had two runners on base with two outs. Tyler Ferguson who had taken over for Ross Stripling got out of the inning with minimal damage.

Oakland’s T.J.McFarland started the bottom of the eighth inning allowing a Dylan Moore single followed by a Moore stolen base to second. McFarland got the job done getting out of the inning and Oakland had one last inning to tie up the game or take the lead.

Oakland started a rally in the ninth inning off a Max Schuemann single. Lawrence Butler would strike out for the first out in the ninth. Brent Rooker popped out for the second out and it was down to JJ Bleday to keep this game going.

The rally continued when Bleday hit a single and the A’s had runners at first and third with Shea Langeliers at the plate and boy did he deliver hitting a home run giving Oakland a 6-4 lead. It was a huge blast to right field for #29 and Oakland’s third home run of the game. Seattle got Tyler Soderstrom out for the third out and Oakland was three outs away from their 70th win of the season.

The Mariners would send the top of the batting order to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning. Mason Miller took the mound for Oakland looking to lock down his 29 save of the season.

Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez hit a single off Miller and the Mariners had started a rally of their own. Cal Raleigh struck out for the first out of the inning. Luke Raley came to the plate and tied up this game for a two run home run 6-6.

The energy had turned on a dime and the Mariners were looking for a walk-off. Miller struck out Jorge Polanco for the second out with Mitch Haniger at the plate. Haniger struck out and it was on to extra innings.

Seth Brown struck out for the first out in the top of the tenth inning. Zach Gelof struck out for the second out and Nick Allen grounded out and Seattle had a second chance to win the game with a walk-off. The Scott Alexander took the mound for Oakland looking to keep this game going. The M’s J. P. Crawford grounded out and Leo Rivas advanced to third base. Justin Turner singled driving in Rivas for the walk-off 7-6.

Game notes: Friday night the A’s lost the first game of their final season series up in Seattle against the Mariners in a shut-out 2-0. The A’s were looking to win their 70th win of the season Saturday night in game two the A’s came close but it got away in the tenth inning. For A’s starter Joey Estes five innings, five hits, three earned runs, two walks, and two strikeouts.

Seth Brown struck out for the first out in the tenth inning. Zach Gelof struck out for the second out and Nick Allen grounded out and Seattle had a second chance to win the game with a walk-off. Scott Alexander took the mound for Oakland looking to keep this game going. J. P. Crawford grounded out and Leo Rivas advanced to third base. Justin Turner singled driving in Rivas for the walk-off 7-6.

The A’s complete their three game series Sunday with the Mariners and as an Oakland brand concluding their 2024 season. Starting pitcher for Oakland Sunday RHP Mitch Spence (8-9, 4.35) for Seattle RHP Logan Gilbert (8-12, 3.33) first pitch 12:10pm PDT at T Mobile Park.