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Bassitt returns but Mariners beat A's 6-5 for 4-game sweep

Posted September 23, 2021 7:00 am

By BEN ROSS

Oakland Athletics' Chris Bassitt pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) The Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Chris Bassitt pitched three scoreless innings less than a month after surgery to repair facial fractures, but the Seattle Mariners rallied against Oakland's bullpen for a 6-5 victory Thursday and a four-game sweep that damaged the Athletics' wild-card hopes.

Seattle matched its season high with its fifth straight win, won its ninth in a row over the A's and moved within two games of the idle Yankees for the second AL wild-card spot with nine games remaining. Oakland lost its season-worst sixth straight home game and fell four games back of New York.

Bassitt, a 32-year-old right-hander, was struck by a 100 mph line drive off the bat of Brian Goodwin of the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 17 and had surgery seven days later on three fractures.

He took the field to a standing ovation from the crowd of 4,966 and allowed one hit in three scoreless innings - J.P. Crawford's leadoff single - struck out four and walked one.

"I am very blessed and thankful for the circle that I have made in baseball," Bassitt said. 'œWhen things happen like that, you really find out who's with you and I'm beyond blessed to have the people that I have with me.'ť

Oakland led 3-0 when Abraham Toro hit an RBI double in the fourth. Sean Murphy boosted the lead with a home run in the bottom half, but Cal Raleigh cut the deficit to 4-3 with a two-run homer in the fifth.

Haniger's 35th homer tied the score in the sixth, and Luis Torrens followed with a go-ahead, two-run homer off Jake Diekman (3-3).

'œWe're doing a lot of things right, I think, and you need to,'ť Mariners manager Scott Servais said. 'œWe've still got a lot to play for here with nine games to go.'ť

Joe Smith (3-4) pitched a scoreless fifth inning. Matt Olson hit his 38th home run, a two-out drive in the ninth off drive off Paul Sewald, who retired Jed Lowrie on a popout for his 10th save in 14 chances.

'œI'm proud of this group, even though we've absolutely sucked the last month," Bassitt said. "We haven't done a good enough job to win games.'ť

Oakland built a 3-0 lead on a second-inning sacrifice fly by Elvis Andrus and third-inning RBI hits by Yan Gomes and Mark Canha off Yusei Kikuchi, who gave up three runs, three hits and four walks in three innings.

SADLER

Mariners right-hander Casey Sadler pitched two shutout innings out of the bullpen to extend his scoreless streak to 24 straight appearances, one shy of Shigetoshi Hasegawa's franchise record, set in 2003. Sadler hasn't allowed a run in his last 22 2/3 innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Athletics: Lowrie (hand) doubled as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. The switch-hitter is currently only available to bat from the left side.

ROSTER MOVES

The A's placed LHP Sam Moll on the paternity list and released C Aramis Garcia after designating him for assignment on Monday.

UP NEXT

Mariners: RHP Logan Gilbert (6-5, 4.74 ERA) opens a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night in Anaheim. Gilbert is 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA in two previous starts against the Angels.

Athletics: RHP Frankie Montas (12-9, 3.57 ERA) takes the hill on Friday night as Oakland welcomes the first-place Houston Astros for a three-game series. Montas has won three straight decisions since his last loss on Aug. 16.

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Oakland Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt reacts after striking out Seattle Mariners' Ty France during the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) The Associated Press

Oakland Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt, middle, is greeted by manager Bob Melvin, left, and Seth Brown (15) after pitching against the Seattle Mariners in the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) The Associated Press

Seattle Mariners' Dylan Moore, from left, celebrates with J.P. Crawford, Ty France and Abraham Toro after the Mariners defeated the Oakland Athletics in a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) The Associated Press

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, left, celebrates with pitcher Paul Sewald after the Mariners defeated the Oakland Athletics in a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) The Associated Press

Oakland Athletics' Matt Olson reacts after striking out against the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) The Associated Press

Seattle Mariners' Luis Torrens celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) The Associated Press

Seattle Mariners' Mitch Haniger is congratulated by teammates after hitting a home run against the Oakland Athletics during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) The Associated Press

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Yohan Ramirez throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. The Mariners won 7-1. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) The Associated Press

Seattle Mariners' Luis Torrens hits a two-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) The Associated Press

Oakland Athletics right fielder Chad Pinder cannot catch a home run hit by Seattle Mariners' Mitch Haniger during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) The Associated Press

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