Mariners strike early, roll to victory over Athletics

OAKLAND, Calif. – Sometimes, a plan comes together.

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon stacked the top of his lineup Saturday with a switch-hitter and four lefties in hopes of gaining a quick lead against Oakland starter Jesse Chavez.

The Mariners responded by scoring three runs in the first inning and rolled from there to an 8-3 victory over the Athletics behind Felix Hernandez at the O.co Coliseum.

“We sprinted to a lead and held on,” McClendon laughed afterward. “Our guys swung the bats real (well) tonight. (Hernandez) was pretty sharp.”

Logan Morrison and Shawn O’Malley hit homers later in the game as the Mariners stretched their winning streak to four games which – and this says much – matches their best run of the season.

“I think we’re doing a great job of swinging at strikes and letting balls go,” Morrison said. “Letting the starting pitcher get himself in a hole.

“We’re taking advantage of our runners in scoring position. Getting big hits. Moving runners. Hitting homers. We’re driving the ball. We’re not just hitting singles.”

Hernandez (16-8) gave up three runs and six hits, striking out nine, over eight innings in his return to the rotation after skipping his last turn in an effort to freshen him up.

“I worked during those 10 days,” he said. “I threw a bullpen. I threw a couple of flat-grounds. I kept my arm in shape. Today, it worked.”

Hernandez’s 16th victory pulled him into a tie with Houston’s Dallas Keuchel for the American League lead. The Mariners, at 65-71, are within six games of .500 for the first time since July 11.

Joe Beimel pitched the ninth inning and closed out the victory in his first outing since returning from the disabled list.

Ketel Marte led off with a walk and went to third on Kyle Seager’s single before scoring on Robinson Cano’s double off the wall in left-center field. Chavez loaded the bases with a four-pitch walk to Seth Smith.

The Athletics settled for a force at second on Morrison’s grounder, which scored Seager for a 2-0 lead. Chavez struck out Mark Trumbo, but Brad Miller beat out a hopper to deep short for an RBI single.

Seager remains on a tear. He had two more hits Saturday and is 17-for-34 in his last eight games.