Bullpen steps up to secure Mariners’ 4-3 victory over Athletics

OAKLAND, Calif. – It might be time to start viewing the Mariners’ bullpen as a reliable strength after Monday’s shutdown relay effort closed out a 4-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

Vidal Nuno, Nick Vincent, Joel Peralta and Steve Cishek combined for three scoreless innings when starter Nathan Karns weakened after being staked to a three-run lead to start the seventh inning.

The unit now has a 2.41 ERA, and Cishek is perfect in seven save opportunities. Not bad through 25 games for a revamped relief corps that entered the season viewed as major question mark.

Oakland starter Kendall Graveman (1-3) gave up three runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings. He exited after Nori Aoki’s one-out double in the seventh inning.

After Mark Rzepcynski replaced Graveman, Aoki stole third and came home on a wild throw by catcher Stephen Vogt for a 4-1 lead.

That turned into the winning run when Oakland jumped Karns (3-1) in the bottom of the inning.

Josh Reddick led off with a double, and Khris Davis followed with his second homer of the game – a 443-foot boomer to center.

When Vogt then doubled to right, the Mariners went to the bullpen for Nuno, who retired Chris Coghlan on a pop. Vincent replaced Nuno and held the lead by retiring the next two batters.

Peralta pitched a one-two-three eighth inning, which got the game to Cishek.

The Athletics opened the scoring when Davis turned on a 1-0 breaking ball from Karns for a leadoff homer in the second inning. It was a 383-foot drive to left for Davis’ fourth homer of the season.

Robinson Cano’s leadoff off double in the fourth inning led to the tying runs when Nelson Cruz and Adam Lind followed with singles.

Cano’s leadoff single in the sixth turned into the go-ahead run when Kyle Seager delivered a two-out double into the right-field corner. Chris Iannetta followed with an RBI single for a 3-1 lead.