Mariners Close Gap On Texas Seattle Hammers Oakland 12-2, Climbs Within One Game Of Lead

One game here, half-a-game there.

That’s how the American League playoff picture looks to the Mariners this morning as their September heat wave continues inside the Kingdome.

The thermometer reached a franchise-record level Friday night when the Mariners extended their winning streak to nine consecutive with a 12-2 scorching of the Oakland Athletics before a sellout crowd of 56,535.

The series opener ended just in time for the Mariners to return to their clubhouse and watch the California Angels score twice in the bottom of the 10th inning and defeat the reeling Texas Rangers 6-5.

Another late-season miracle moved closer to reality.

All but counted out of the A.L. West race last week when Texas led by nine games, the Mariners find themselves one game behind the free-falling Rangers and only half a game behind the Baltimore Orioles in the wild-card race. All three teams have 70 losses.

Joey Cora, Ken Griffey Jr. and Jay Buhner kept the Fan Appreciation Night crowd entertained by hitting home runs to power the Mariners’ 14-hit assault against six Athletics pitchers.

Any worries that the Mariners might have a letdown following their four-game sweep of the Rangers were instantly dispelled in the opener of the three-game series that will end the final homestand of the season.

“We know what we have to do,” Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. “We see the finish line and we’re going for it.”

The next big step came Friday night against a team that historically plays well against them. But this became a no-doubt-about-it victory in a hurry.

“Other than out-pitching us, out-hitting us and out-defensing us, we were in the game,” Athletics manager Art Howe said. “That’s a game you don’t think about. You just come back tomorrow.”

The Mariners wasted no time giving the capacity crowd something to yell about. They scored two runs in the first inning, another in the second, and five in the third to take a commanding 8-2 lead.

“It was important to get off to a good start, forget about what other teams are doing and worry about the Mariners,” catcher Dan Wilson said. “Our history against Oakland isn’t very good, but we got the lead and our pitchers did a good job.”

Sensing the importance of this game, neither manager accepted erratic pitching. And neither starter made it through the third inning.

“The (A’s players) are getting a little taste of playoff baseball,” Howe said. “Lou’s got the bullpen going at the first sign of trouble. He’s going out to win every game. That’s how it is in the playoffs.”

Despite the big lead, Mariners starter Salomon Torres was the first to go. He sweated through a tough third inning, allowing two runs, nearly giving away the Mariners’ three-run lead built on Paul Sorrento’s two-run single in the first and Cora’s career-high fifth homer in the third.

Torres, coming off a brilliant two-hit shutout against the Minnesota Twins, ran into instant trouble in the third when he walked ninth-place hitter Mike Bordick.

One out later, he walked Scott Brosius. One out after that, Mark McGwire rattled the right-center field wall for a two-run double.

Rafael Carmona came in and did something he hadn’t done against the Athletics this season: get an out.

The A’s had been 7 for 7 off the right-hander before Geronimo Berroa grounded out to end the inning.

Carmona contributed 2-2/3 innings, being lifted in the sixth inning after walking two batters. Piniella made the move even with a 10-run lead.

Right-hander Rusty Meacham, who hadn’t pitched since Sept. 4, allowed only one baserunner - a two-out walk in the ninth - in a 3-2/3-inning workout to claim his first save of the season.

Carmona won his seventh.

Griffey belted his career-best 46th homer in the fourth inning and Buhner also extended his career high with a three-run jolt in the fifth.