The Oakland Athletics opened their three-game series with the Seattle Mariners Monday afternoon by dropping a tough 2-1 decision to phenom Michael Pineda. Brandon McCarthy pitched well in his return from the disabled list but a couple small mistakes cost him as dropped to 1-5.
The A’s grabbed an early 1-0 lead on Pineda in the second inning. Hideki Matsui led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a Chris Carter walk. After David DeJesus struck out and Conor Jackson fouled out, Kurt Suzuki singled to left and Matsui got the wave home. Left fielder Carlos Peguero had the arm to get Matsui but his throw was off line and Matsui slid home safe.
The A’s would get nothing else as Michael Pineda did enough to contain them. Although Oakland’s lineup got Pineda out after six, it was more due to patience than actually producing a ton of base runners as they only got two hits and two walks against him.
Brandon McCarthy settled into an early groove as he retired the first nine batters he faced and faced the minimum through 5 2/3 thanks to a couple big double plays. However, he made his first big mistake of the game in the sixth as he gave up a two-run home run to right center, evening the game at 1.
The Mariners added a run in the seventh to take the lead 2-1. Justin Smoak doubled in Brendan Ryan and that was all the Mariners needed. The A’s got a man on in the eighth and ninth innings but were unable to get anything else and fell 2-1.
The A’s and Mariners are back on Tuesday for a 7:05pm game on CSN California. Trevor Cahill faces Felix Hernandez in what could be another low scoring game at the O.Co Coliseum.