Associated Press
SEATTLE — Mitch Haniger hit a three-run homer and Daniel Vogelbach added a two-run shot — both with two outs in the seventh inning — rallying the Seattle Mariners to a 7-4 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.
Seattle took advantage of a breakdown by Oakland’s bullpen for five runs in the seventh. Yusmeiro Petit retired the first two batters before Jean Segura reached on a single with two outs. Lefty specialist Danny Coulombe (0-1) walked Robinson Cano, and Chris Hatcher was summoned to face Haniger.
After evening the count at 2-2, Hatcher and catcher Jonathan Lucroy briefly met at the mound to discuss the next pitch to Haniger. Their decision was the wrong one as Haniger clubbed his third homer of the season. Seattle’s big inning wasn’t done as Kyle Seager followed with a single and Vogelbach turned on the first pitch from Hatcher for his first career homer.
It was the second time in the young season the Mariners put up five runs in an inning.
Khris Davis hit two home runs for Oakland, a two-run shot in the first and a solo homer in the eighth inning. Matt Chapman added a solo homer in the sixth inning, his fifth of the season, off Seattle starter Mike Leake to snap a 2-all tie.
Aside from the home runs allowed, Leake pitched well, giving up three earned runs and striking out four over six innings. He was matched by Oakland starter Andrew Triggs, who allowed four straight hits and two runs in the first inning, but settled down to allow just one hit after that point.
The difference was Seattle’s bullpen. Dan Altavilla (1-1) pitched the seventh, Juan Nicasio allowed Davis’ homer in the eighth but was otherwise untouched, and Edwin Diaz pitched the ninth for his fifth save.
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