SEATTLE — Ty France hit a tying single and scored on Tom Murphy’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning as the Seattle Mariners rallied past the Oakland Athletics 6-5 Monday for their fifth straight win.
The Mariners have won seven of eight and improved to 5-0 in extra innings this season.
“I truly believe if you’re out there as the aggressor, good things are going to happen and I think that’s what you’ve seen here in the past eight games or so,” Murphy said.
Some of Seattle’s celebration was muted by concern about center fielder Kyle Lewis.
Lewis left the game in the eighth inning with discomfort in his right knee, shortly after leaping for Sean Murphy’s double in the top of the eighth.
Manager Scott Servais said it was similar to what Lewis felt in the knee late in spring training and caused last year’s AL Rookie of the Year to miss the first three weeks of the regular season.
“I think when he when he came down, he felt some soreness in his knee a little bit similar to maybe what he felt in spring training,” Servais said. “He did miss some time with that. So just precautionary. Let’s get him out of the game. Let’s get him checked on and take a look from there.”
Oakland took a 5-4 lead in the top of the 10th on a two-out single by Aramís García off Daniel Zamora (2-0).
The Mariners pulled even on France’s one-out single off Lou Trivino (2-2). J.P. Crawford followed with a one-hopper that first baseman Matt Olson couldn’t handle for an error and rolled down the right field line.
“It came off with a little weird spin on it, hit the lip or stayed down because of it. Tough one,” Olson said.
France was held at third, and after Jake Fraley was intentionally walked, scored easily on Murphy’s deep fly to right field.
“I was just trying to get a ball up so I put in the air. It was as simple as that,” Murphy said. “Obviously bases were loaded, one out, flyball was going to do the job and thankfully I put myself in a good count and got the pitch I needed.”
Oakland scored twice in the eighth inning against Seattle’s bullpen. Sean Murphy provided the big blow on an RBI double that just eluded the leaping attempt of Lewis in center field and tied the game at 4.
Top Mariners prospect Logan Gilbert was in line for his first major league victory after throwing six strong innings allowing two runs before Oakland rallied in the eighth.
Anthony Misiewicz gave up a walk and single to open the eighth, then struck out Jed Lowrie and Seth Brown.
JT Chargois entered but was called for a balk that scored Mark Canha and Murphy followed with his tying double.
Donovan Walton hit his first homer in the big leagues, a three-run shot off Oakland starter James Kaprielian in the fourth that gave Seattle a 3-1 lead. Lewis added an RBI double that ended Kaprielian’s day.
Less than a week ago, Kaprielian shut out Seattle for seven innings while allowing only two hits. This time, he gave five hits and struck out three, but struggled with his control walking three and hit two batters.
A’s manager Bob Melvin said Kaprielian was going to be limited to about 85 pitches after throwing at least 94 in each of his first three starts.
“Got off to a good start. Got a lot of swings and misses early on and then they just had one big inning on him,” Melvin said.
ROSTER SHUFFLE
The Mariners optioned IF Eric Campbell to Triple-A Tacoma with Fraley coming off the injured list. … Seattle traded RHP Sam Delaplane to San Francisco for cash considerations. Delaplane was designated for assignment last week by the Mariners.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: Melvin said OF Ramón Laureano (groin) felt “not good,” after going through some light pregame work on Monday. Melvin said it’s likely the A’s will need to make a roster move with the center fielder likely headed to the injured list beore Tuesday’s game.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Chris Bassitt (5-2, 3.21) has won five straight decisions and is coming off the best game of his career throwing a complete-game two-hitter in a victory over the Los Angeles Angles last week.
Mariners: LHP Marco Gonzales (1-3, 5.40) returns from the injured list to make his first start since April 27. Gonzales has been sidelined by a forearm strain and is expected to be limited to about four innings.
