Seattle Mariners' Nick Franklin drives in a pair of runs against the Oakland Athletics in the eighth inning Saturday.
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 5-all.
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 RBI 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 a 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. He’s batting .196 with five home runs and 11 RBI against lefties on the year. … Lowrie went 3-3 with a walk and three RBI. In 11 games against Seattle this season, Lowrie is batting .436 with 2 home runs and 10 RBI.
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