Davis, Alonso spark A's to 6-3 win over Mariners
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Marcus Semien is having a lot of success since being moved up in the Oakland Athletics' batting order.
Then again, the young shortstop has been doing well just about anywhere manager Bob Melvin pencils him in the lineup.
Semien matched his career-high with four hits and sparked two big innings while batting second for the third consecutive game, and the A's beat Seattle 6-3 on Friday night to end the Mariners' six-game winning streak.
"It felt great," Semien said. "That's the goal every night. It's not going to happen every night but you work hard every day in the cage and BP to do that."
Semien began the year batting ninth in the A's lineup but an injury to Jed Lowrie opened a spot near the top of the order. For the last three weeks, Melvin has used Semien more and more to fill that hole.
It's worked out well, too. Over his last eight games Semien is batting .400.
"He can hit anywhere in the lineup," Melvin said. "This the first time he's had any significant time in the two hole against righties. One of the reasons is Jed (Lowrie) is out ... but you can't ignore 23 home runs and second on our team in RBIs."
Yonder Alonso hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the sixth inning off rookie Joe Wieland, Khris Davis added his career-high 28th home run and Stephen Vogt had an RBI double and scored twice to help the A's to their fourth win in five games.
Sean Manaea fought early command issues and allowed three runs over six innings for his first win since June 29. Manaea (4-7) gave up three hits, walked three and struck out four.
Kyle Seager homered and Shawn O'Malley added two hits for the Mariners.
Seattle had won seven straight at the Coliseum, including a three-game sweep in May, before going cold offensively in its return.
The Mariners hit into inning-ending double plays in the first, second and third innings and failed to score after Manaea walked the leadoff batter each time.
"We didn't do a whole lot offensively," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "It was like groundhog day: double play, double play, double play the first three innings."
Ryan Madson retired three batters for his 25th save.
Oakland broke the game open in the sixth with five consecutive singles, including Alonso's tiebreaker.
Alonso, who also singled in the eighth, is hitting .361 over his last 11 games.
Wieland (0-1), acquired from the Dodgers in the offseason, allowed six runs and nine hits with three strikeouts in his Mariners debut.
GOING OPPO
Davis, the only batter on Oakland's roster who had faced Wieland, lined an opposite field, two-run homer in the first that had the A's players and coaches buzzing long after the game ended. "Guys just don't do that," Melvin said. "His opposite field power is similar to a guy like (Detroit's Miguel) Cabrera. You just don't see that from guys like that."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners: Steve Cishek (torn left hip labrum) is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon but Servais said Cishek won't be coming back as the team's closer when he returns to the big league club. Edwin Diaz, who has converted all five save opportunities since taking over as closer, will remain in that role. ... James Paxton, who was hit in the elbow by a line drive Aug. 7, is still sore but Servais is hopeful to have the lefty back in the rotation early next week. ... OF Daniel Robertson was designated for assignment.
Athletics: Sean Doolittle threw off a mound and faced hitters, an encouraging sign for the team's former closer who has been on the DL with a strained left elbow since June 26. ... RHP Jesse Hahn (strained right shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Saturday. ... Patrick Schuster was claimed off waivers by Philadelphia. Schuster was designated for assignment on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Mariners: RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (13-7) makes his 13th career start against the A's on Saturday night. Iwakuma has 12 wins over his last 15 starts.
Athletics: RHP Kendall Graveman (8-7) will face Seattle for the third time this season. Graveman is 7-1 over his past 13 starts.