Seattle, WA – Brendan Ryan hit a two-run homer, Blake Beavan went seven solid innings and the Mariners downed the Athletics, 5-3, on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series.
Beavan (1-1) allowed three runs -- on a homer to Eric Sogard -- on six hits. He struck out four and did not issue a walk.
Justin Smoak added a solo home run and finished with two RBI, Ichiro Suzuki doubled in a run and Brandon League picked up his fourth save of the season for the Mariners, who have won two straight.
Graham Godfrey (0-2) took the loss, allowing five runs -- three earned -- on six hits over five innings.
Both Ryan and Smoak hit their home runs with two outs. Ryan's came after a Kyle Seager leadoff double in the second and Smoak's solo shot came an inning later.
In the fifth, Kila Ka'aihue led off with a single before Beavan hit Anthony Recker with a pitch. Sogard then turned on a 3-1 fastball, sending it into the seats in right for a 3-3 tie.
Seattle responded in the bottom half. Chone Figgins drew a one-out walk and Dustin Ackley reached on an error by Jemile Weeks, placing runners at first and second. Suzuki followed with a double to right, scoring Figgins and Ackley crossed the plate on Smoak's groundout.
Oakland placed just one runner in scoring position the rest of the way. That came in the eighth, when Tom Wilhelmsen replaced Beavan and issued a leadoff walk to Coco Crisp. A Seth Smith groundout moved Crisp to second, but Wilhelmsen retired Yoenis Cespedes and Josh Reddick to end the inning.
Game Notes
The Athletics had seven hits and have now recorded less than 10 hits in each of their first 10 games, which ties their longest streak in franchise history (1978)...Seattle catcher/designated hitter Jesus Montero's eight-game hitting streak came to an end. He was 0-for-4.
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