Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Coco Crisp belted a two-run homer and singled in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Oakland Athletics overcame an early deficit to beat Seattle, 4-3, in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Gio Gonzalez (14-8) gave up three runs on six hits and struck out nine over 6 2/3 innings to win his fourth straight start for Oakland, which remains seven games behind AL West-leading Texas.
Mariners starter Luke French (4-5) yielded four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Seattle had taken a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Chone Figgins reached on a one-out single and Russell Branyan followed with his 24th home run of the season.
Matt Tuiasosopo added a solo shot in the second to give the Mariners a three- run cushion.
Oakland got two runs back in the third on the blast by Crisp, then moved ahead in the sixth.
With one out in the inning and runners on first and second, Jamey Wright replaced French and, following a double steal by Rajai Davis and Matt Carson, walked Steven Tolleson to load the bases. The tying run scored when Cliff Pennington grounded into a fielder's choice, and Crisp put Oakland on top with a base hit to right field.
There was a missed opportunity for the Mariners in the seventh, when Oakland reliever Craig Breslow fanned Branyan to strand the tying run at second.
Breslow tossed a perfect eighth and Andrew Bailey pitched the ninth for his 22nd save.
Game Notes
Seattle right fielder Ichiro Suzuki went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. He has eight multi-hit performances during that span...Mark Ellis has hit safely in nine straight games...Davis collected three hits...Oakland is 9-6 against Seattle in 2010.