The Oakland A’s wrapped up their three-game set with the Seattle Mariners with a 4-3 victory. The A’s completed the sweep and hung steady at seven games back of the Rangers, who also won this evening.
Gio Gonzalez put together yet another solid start as he improved to 14-8 after holding the Mariners to three runs over 6 2/3 innings and striking out nine batters. Gonzalez looked like he might be a tough luck loser as the A’s struggled against Luke French.
Trailing 3-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth, the A’s used some National League baseball in getting a pair of runs to take the lead. After Ellis doubled to center to lead off the inning, he advanced to third and Rajai Davis got to first on a bunt single. A fielder’s choice moved Davis second but saw Ellis thrown out after a pickle. Bob Geren put on a huge double steal to advance the runners to second and third with one out.
Cliff Pennington almost ended the inning with a double play, but Mariners SS Josh Wilson was unable to turn the double play and Davis scored. Coco Crisp knocked Matt Carson, the winning run with a single to right. The A’s bullpen locked up the final 2 1/3 innings by keeping the Mariners off the base paths entirely.
The A’s have Thursday off before the Boston Red Sox come to town for three games. It’s safe to say the A’s have approximately three weeks to shave 3-4 games off the Rangers seven-game lead before the Rangers come to Oakland for a four-game series.