The Seattle Mariners played the hometown Oakland Athletics on Saturday night, wrapping up a four-game series that began last week in Japan. The game ended up being an unexpected high-scoring shootout that ended with the Mariners taking the game and the series with an 8-7 win.
Seattle got on the board first, when Dustin Ackley followed a leadoff Chone Figgins triple with an RBI groundout.
The Mariners batted around in a six-run fourth inning, highlighted by an Ichiro Suzuki triple to the center-field wall that scored Dustin Ackley. Leadoff hitter Chone Figgins had a big night, going 3-for-5 with two RBI, a double, a triple and a run scored. Figgins is now batting .412 to start the season. Michael Saunders added an insurance run on a solo home run in the 6th inning to bring the score to 8-2.
What appeared to be a blowout turned into a nail-biter, as new A's center fielder Yoenis Cespedes once again launched a bomb to dead center field in the bottom of the seventh inning. The three-run homer brought the score to 8-7 and that insurance run in the sixth suddenly loomed large for the M's.
The Mariners roughed up A's starting pitcher in a big way, touching him for seven earned runs -- the most runs Colon has given up in an appearance since 2007, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
Seattle ace Felix Hernandez had a great night early, but struggled as the game wore on. He ended up going 6.1 innings with seven strikeouts, giving up a walk and eight hits and being charged with six earned runs.
Brandon League was able to come on in the bottom of the ninth and lock down the win for the Mariners for the second straight night.
For updates and perspective on the Seattle Mariners, head on over to Lookout Landing. For all news and information regarding the Oakland A's, please visit Athletics Nation.
