Seager, seven pitchers help Mariners subdue A's

Kyle Seager belted a two-run homer and seven pitchers combined on a three-hitter as the host Seattle Mariners defeated the postseason-bound Oakland Athletics 3-1 on Sunday afternoon in the regular-season finale. The Mariners (68-94) also received a run-scoring single from rookie Kyle Lewis as they won for just the second time in their final seven games.

The A's (97-65) edged out Tampa Bay in the chase for the American League's top wild card. Oakland will play host to the Rays on Wednesday in a one-game playoff. Mariners right-handers Justin Dunn, Reggie McClain (1-1), Zac Grotz, Art Warren, Dan Altavilla, Erik Swanson and Anthony Bass nearly combined for a shutout.

Dunn pitched the first two innings and didn't allow a hit with one walk and three strikeouts. McClain gave up two hits in his two innings with one strikeout. Grotz followed with a hitless inning with one walk and two strikeouts and Warren allowed one hit, one walk and struck out two in his lone inning. Altavilla pitched a 1-2-3 seventh and Swanson did the same thing in the eighth before Bass pitched the ninth for his fifth save.

The lone Oakland run came in the ninth inning as Sean Murphy led off with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, took third on a flyout to center field and scored on Josh Phegley's groundout. Seager homered, his 23rd of the season, in the first inning off Oakland right-hander Tanner Roark (10-10). With two outs, Austin Nola walked and Seager lined an 0-1 pitch over the right-field wall.

The Mariners added to their lead in the fifth. With one out, Nola lined a double to left off the glove of center fielder Skye Bolt. After Roark struck out Seager, Lewis lined a run-scoring single to center to make it 3-0.

Roark went five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out five. The A's left six runners on base and went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

 

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