The Oakland Athletics evened up their record at 1-1 as they claimed a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners, Thursday morning in Tokyo. The A's and Mariners wrapped up their two game set in Tokyo and will return to the United States for the state-side start of the 2012 MLB season.
The A's received their first power surge of the season as Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes hit his first career home run and Josh Reddick and Jonny Gomes each added their first as members of the A's. Oakland fell behind 1-0 in the seventh on a Justin Smoak home run off Bartolo Colon. The team responded in the bottom of the inning. Kurt Suzuki reached base on a fielder's choice and was immediately followed by Yoenis Cespedes' first career home run and then Josh Reddick joining him with a back-to-back shot. The A's added their fourth run on a Jonny Gomes home run in the eighth.
Colon earned his first victory with the A's as he went eight innings, striking out six and scattering three hits. Grant Balfour came on in the ninth for his first save as the team's 2012 closer.
The A's head back to the United States to begin final preparations for next week's American debut of the 2012 season. Oakland will travel up to Sacramento on Saturday for their annual matchup with the Triple-A Rivercats. They will then wrap up their modified spring training schedule with their annual three game series against the Giants. They will plat at AT&T Park on Monday and Wednesday, while hosting the Giants on Tuesday.