The Seattle Mariners received a big blow to their American League postseason hopes last week when they dropped three of four home games against the Athletics.
The teams reconvene Friday for the opener of a three-game series in West Sacramento, Calif., and the Mariners are in deep desperation mode with 15 games remaining.
Seattle (69-78) is in third place in the AL West, six games behind the division-leading Houston Astros (75-72) and three games behind the Texas Rangers (72-75).
The wild-card race is just as problematic. The Mariners are five games behind the Guardians (74-73) for the third and final spot, but there are four other teams between Seattle and Cleveland.
Friday is the start of a nine-game road trip on which Seattle will need to be close to flawless. The Mariners are playing three-game sets against the three worst teams in baseball: the Athletics (59-88), the Los Angeles Angels (56-90) and the Colorado Rockies (55-91).
Seattle won the final two contests of a three-game home set against the Rangers this week, capped by a 4-3 comeback victory on Thursday.
Texas starter Jacob deGrom retired the first 15 batters he faced before Cole Young reached on an infield hit in the sixth.
One inning later, deGrom was out of the contest and Seattle scored four runs off reliever Jakob Junis, capped by a go-ahead three-run homer by Julio Rodriguez.
“Julio put a really good swing on that pitch down and in,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “I thought that ball was going to go through the back netting in the bullpen, it was hit so hard.”
Rodriguez, 25, is experiencing a down season with 21 homers, 64 RBIs and a .239 average. He was an AL All-Star in three of his first four seasons before failing to make the team this season.
The Athletics have won six of their past eight contests. They took two of three from the visiting Toronto Blue Jays this week, ending with a 2-0 victory on Wednesday.
Five A’s pitchers combined on a six-hit shutout and rookie Henry Bolte hit a solo homer to finish off a strong series.
Bolte, 23, went 4-for-10 with two homers, two RBIs, four runs, three walks and three steals in the set.
“Henry is doing it,” Athletics catcher Brian Serven said. “He’s a great player, a great kid. He’s really fun to watch. He’s electric.”
Serven has been receiving occasional starts as the backup since All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers underwent right knee surgery on July 28.
Langeliers began a rehab stint on Thursday night with Triple-A Las Vegas, serving as the designated hitter and going 2-for-3 with an RBI double. The Athletics hope he can join the major league squad on Tuesday for the start of a road series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said earlier this week that Langeliers (23 homers in 93 games) will not do any catching the rest of the season. Langeliers will be utilized as a DH or pinch hitter.
Left-hander Jeffrey Springs (4-13, 6.02 ERA) will start for the A’s on Friday after dominating Seattle hitters in a 6-2 victory last Saturday.
Springs gave up two hits and two walks and struck out six in seven scoreless innings to win for the first time since April 14. He ended an 0-13 stretch that covered 21 starts.
“I feel like I finally did my job,” Springs said afterward.
Springs, who turns 34 on Sept. 20, is 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA in 16 appearances (eight starts) against Seattle. He is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in two 2026 outings against the Mariners. Rodriguez is 4-for-20 with two homers off Springs in his career.
Right-hander George Kirby (9-11, 4.18 ERA) again will oppose Springs. He gave up four runs (three earned) and seven hits over 6 2/3 innings while taking the loss on Saturday. He walked one, fanned five and served up a solo homer to Max Muncy.
Kirby, 28, is 5-1 with a 3.72 ERA in 10 career starts against the A’s. Zack Gelof owns a .500 average (5-for-10) and a homer vs. Kirby.
–Field Level Media
