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Seattle Mariners

Tyler Olson picks up first big-league win for M’s

Bob Dutton Tacoma News Tribune
OAKLAND, Calif. — Nelson Cruz hit his first home run for Seattle and Brad Miller threw out a runner at the plate in the 10th inning and doubled in the go-ahead run in the 11th, lifting the Seattle Mariners over the Oakland Athletics 5-4 Saturday. Spokane Valley’s Tyler Olson got the win for Seattle. Cruz, signed to a $57 million, four-year contract as a free agent, hit a three-run drive in the eighth off Dan Otero to put the Mariners in front 4-2. Oakland tied the score in the bottom half on RBI doubles by Ben Zobrist off Danny Farquhar and Brett Lawrie against Carson Smith. Logan Morrison singled against Fernando Abad (0-1) leading off the 11th, advanced on Dustin Ackley’s sacrifice and scored when Miller sliced a fastball into the left-field corner for an opposite-field hit. Olson (1-0) pitched around two hits and two walks in the 10th, getting help when Ben Zobrist was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first on Ike Davis’ one-out double off the center-field fence. Austin Jackson grabbed the ball with his bare hand off a hop and threw to Miller. Zobrist hesitated between first and second bases and was thrown out by Miller, who made a one-hop throw to catcher Mike Zunino for the tag. With runners on second and third and two outs, Marcus Semien grounded into an inning-ending forceout. Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect 11th for his second save. Otero allowed just his second run in 13 appearances against the Mariners, this first in 12 games. A’s starter Sonny Gray allowed two runs — one earned — and six hits in 7 1-3 innings. Ackley homered leading off the third, end Gray’s consecutive scoreless innings streak at 20 dating to Sept. 23. Seattle starter J.A. Happ gave up two runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings. Josh Phegley and Marcus Semien gave Oakland a 2-1 lead with RBI singles in the seventh.