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Seattle Mariners

Franklin drives in 3 as Mariners top A’s

Mariners’ Endy Chavez cheers as he scores in the eighth inning. (Associated Press)
Curtis Crabtree Associated Press

SEATTLE – Nick Franklin had tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning for his third hit of the game, lifting the Seattle Mariners to a 7-5 win over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night.

Brendan Ryan singled off Ryan Cook (1-1) to lead off the eighth. Ryan moved up on a wild pitch and advanced to third on Endy Chavez’s bunt single. Chavez took second on indifference before Franklin delivered a hit to right field to put the Mariners ahead by two.

Raul Ibanez hit a three-run homer off Jerry Blevins in the seventh to pull Seattle to a 5-5 tie.

Yoervis Medina (2-2) earned the victory with 2 1/3 scoreless innings to close out the game.

In his first game back from the disabled list, Franklin Gutierrez homered to right-center field in his first at-bat to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead. Following walks by Justin Smoak and Henry Blanco, Franklin came through with a two-out single to score Smoak and extend the lead to 2-0. Franklin matched career highs with three RBIs and three hits.

Oakland got a run back in the third. Eric Sogard led off with a double and Derek Norris singled to put runners on the corners. Jed Lowrie then drove in Sogard with a sacrifice fly.

The Mariners chased Dan Straily in the fourth inning. Straily lasted just 3 1/3 innings – the shortest outing of his career – while allowing six hits and two runs. He walked three and struck out five.

Chris Young and Sogard led off the fifth inning with back-to-back singles and Coco Crisp drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Lowrie came through again with an single to score a pair and give the A’s a 3-2 lead.

Oakland added on in the seventh inning. Lowrie doubled off Charlie Furbush and the Mariners elected to intentionally walk Yoenis Cespedes. After Brandon Moss struck out, Medina relieved and Josh Donaldson and Josh Reddick each singled in a run to give the A’s a 5-2 cushion.

The lead didn’t last long as Seattle rallied in bottom half of the inning. After a Kyle Seager single and Kendrys Morales walk, Ibanez delivered a three-run home run into the right-field seats off Jerry Blevins to knot the game at 5-5.

Aaron Harang went five innings allowing six hits and three runs for the Mariners. He walked two and struck out three.

Notes

Gutierrez went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored in his first game since being activated from the 60-day disabled list. … Ibanez has just 10 hits this season off left-handed pitchers but five have been home runs. … Lowrie went 3-3 with a walk and three RBI. In 11 games against Seattle this season, Lowrie is batting .436 with two home runs and 10 RBIs.