Mariners win in Brown’s debut

SEATTLE – Last-place Seattle welcomed interim manager Daren Brown by getting its first triple play in 15 years in a 3-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Monday night. Brown moved up from Triple-A Tacoma earlier Monday when Seattle fired first-time manager Don Wakamatsu after 11/2 seasons. Brown became the 10th of Seattle’s 17 managers to win their first game. Only one of the other 16 finished their Mariners tenure with a winning record: Lou Piniella. The only manager to take Seattle to the postseason left after the 2002 season with a year left on his contract. Brown and the 19,943 in attendance were treated in the top of the fourth to the 10th triple play in Mariners history, the first since July 13, 1995, against Toronto. Jose Lopez took a chopper by Oakland’s Mark Ellis and immediately stepped on third base for a forceout. Lopez then threw to second base for a forceout there and Chone Figgins’ throw to first baseman Casey Kotchman appeared to arrive at the same time as Ellis’ foot hit the bag, but first base umpire Cory Blaser called Ellis out. Ellis argued the call to no avail. RBI singles by Lopez and Franklin Gutierrez with two out in the first off Vin Mazzaro (6-4) gave Doug Fister (4-8) and relievers Sean White, Brandon League and David Aardsma all the runs they needed. Aardsma was perfect in the ninth for his 21st save in 25 chances – and sent Oakland back to eight games behind idle and first-place Texas in the A.L. West. Fister won for the first time in eight decisions and 12 starts, since May 14. He allowed seven hits and one run in six innings. He walked one and struck out five.