Lindor, Gomes power Indians to rout of Mariners

(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- It took one batter for the Cleveland Indians to get over dropping their series opener against the Seattle Mariners. After that, the American League Central champions were fine.

Francisco Lindor hit a leadoff homer and the Indians went deep four times in an 11-4 victory over the Mariners on Saturday at Safeco Field.

Jose Ramirez and Yan Gomes each had four RBIs. Ramirez went 3-for-3 with a double and a homer, and Gomes was 3-for-5 with two homers.

Lindor made the most of a rare start at designated hitter -- he went 2-for-5 with a double in the third inning and scored three runs. The Indians had 14 hits.

Cleveland (97-58) stayed 1 1/2 games ahead of Houston for the best record in the American League and home-field advantage up to the World Series. The Indians also responded after losing the series opener to Seattle on Friday night.

"It's part of the game," Gomes said of the Friday night loss. "The best thing to do is just come back and put that behind you like we've done all year. Put games behind us and go out there and compete."

Seattle (75-80) lost for the seventh time in eight games and fell six games behind Minnesota for the second AL wild card.

Carlos Carrasco (17-6) pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed one earned run, six hits and two walks. He struck out six.

Five relievers, including All-Star Andrew Miller, went the rest of the way for the Indians to seal the victory.

Miller, who missed time in August and September with knee tendinitis, pitched 1 1/3 shutout innings after walking his first two batters.

"(Carrasco's) been great, they've got a pretty good lineup," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He got up around 100 pitches and they were starting to look like he left a couple balls up, and we were trying to get Andrew for the inning-plus, so that seemed a good time to do it."

Seattle rookie Andrew Moore (1-5) went four innings, allowing three runs (two earned). He struck out three.

"I thought Andrew made a few adjustments during the game," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "But you could see from the get-go he wasn't as sharp as he had been."

Defense was a problem for Seattle, which committed five errors -- three of them led to Cleveland runs.

"For us and where we're going, it's about catching the baseball and doing things right fundamentally," Servais said. "We haven't done that. We've struggled with that."

Lindor got the Indians going early, hitting his 33rd homer and his third leadoff shot of the season.

He kept it going in the third inning, leading off with single down the right-field line. Austin Jackson then singled him home and he took third on errors by first baseman Yonder Alonso and catcher Mike Zunino.

Ramirez followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Jackson to give Cleveland a 3-0 lead.

The Mariners scored in the sixth inning on Kyle Seager's RBI double to left-center field.

The Indians tacked on two runs in the seventh on sacrifice flies by Ramirez and Greg Allen to put the game out of reach. Ramirez and Gomes each homered in a five-run ninth.

Nelson Cruz added a solo shot in the eighth, his 37th homer, for the Mariners.

NOTES: Cleveland RHP Mike Clevinger has been moved to the bullpen, with Indians manager Terry Francona noting, "We kind of think he can be a weapon." ... Cleveland IF Yandy Diaz returned after missing three days with a jammed finger. He went 1-for-1 as a pinch hitter and stayed in the game at third base. ... Seattle RHP Tony Zych has been shut down for the season with a strain of his right elbow flexor bundle, an injury he suffered in August. ... The Mariners lost an instant replay challenge on Marco Gonzales' attempted pickoff of Cleveland OF Tyler Naquin in the sixth inning. The delay for the replay was 2 minutes, 35 seconds. ... The Indians won their challenge on a Francisco Lindor grounder that 1B Yonder Alonso muffed before 2B Robinson Cano scooped it and threw to first. Lindor was ruled safe after a 32-second delay.

Maybin blasts Astros past Mariners again

(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- As strong as the top of the Houston Astros' lineup is, it was the back end that did the most damage to the Seattle Mariners the past two nights.

Or just one guy in the back end of the lineup.

Cameron Maybin hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Seattle closer Edwin Diaz in the ninth inning Wednesday, and the Astros defeated the Mariners 5-3 to complete a three-game sweep.

It was the second consecutive night Maybin hit a go-ahead homer to beat Seattle after Houston acquired him Aug. 31.

"We knew everybody would like him," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "He's obviously performing at a high level, earning more at-bats. Big swing tonight."

The Astros (86-53) ran their winning streak to seven games. Houston increased its lead over the second-place Los Angeles Angels in the American League West to 14 1/2 and cut its magic number to win the division to nine.

The Mariners (69-71) lost their third straight and dropped 3 1/2 games back of the Minnesota Twins in the race for the second AL wild card.

"Disappointing series, no doubt," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "I thought we were right in every game, we just didn't get big hits late, and that's what it takes.

Diaz (3-6) gave up a leadoff double to Carlos Beltran in the ninth. Two batters later, Maybin took Diaz the other way, homering off the right field foul pole.

Maybin joked that guessing what was coming from Diaz wasn't the hardest part. Not against the heat Diaz throws.

"He throws 100 (mph), so I think it's pretty simple," Maybin said. "Look for one pitch when he throws that hard."

Chris Devenski (8-3) earned the win, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings to close out the contest.

Early on, the game had the makings of a pitchers' duel between Houston's Lance McCullers Jr. and Seattle's Andrew Moore, two pitchers who had just returned to their rotations this week -- McCullers from the disabled list, Moore from the bullpen.

McCullers was dominant early, retiring the first 11 Mariners. Except for a two-run double by Marwin Gonzalez in the fourth, Moore did a good job of dodging trouble.

Seattle's Kyle Seager hit a solo homer in the fifth.

The wheels came off for McCullers in the sixth, when he surrendered a leadoff triple to Jean Segura before Robinson Cano's flare to left equaled the score at 2-2. Mitch Haniger's two-out single brought home Cruz and gave Seattle a 3-2 lead.

McCullers went 5 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and three runs, before giving way to Francisco Liriano after coughing up consecutive hits to Cano and Nelson Cruz.

Moore went six innings, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three. Servais said Moore's start went beyond his hopes.

However, the bullpen couldn't hold the lead. George Springer evened the score at 3-3 with an RBI single in the seventh off Nick Vincent.

Once again it was the seventh inning that bit the Mariners. It was the same juncture when Houston produced a decisive four-run rally in the series opener, then Maybin's go-ahead shot Tuesday.

Now, Springer's tying single on a lazy liner to center.

"For whatever reason, the seventh inning has been our Achilles' heel in this series," Servais said. "And it got us."

Meanwhile, the Astros look to be finding their stride at the right time of year, with the division title in sight.

"We're pitching, we're hitting, we're playing with some enthusiasm," Hinch said. "Pretty good run."

NOTES: Houston 2B Jose Altuve took a routine day off, and Marwin Gonzalez took his spot in the field. Astros manager A.J. Hinch said Altuve would be back in the lineup Friday in Oakland. ... Astros OF Jake Marisnick (groin) returned to action after missing five games, pinch-running for Carlos Beltran in the ninth. ... Houston RHP James Hoyt was recalled from Triple-A Fresno and slotted into the bullpen. ... Seattle RHP Felix Hernandez (shoulder) and LHP James Paxton (pec) will pitch in a simulated game on Friday. Each is expected to throw 30-35 pitches. ... Mariners RHP Seth Frankoff, claimed off waivers from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, was optioned to Class A Modesto.

Seager caps 8th-inning rally as M's topple Braves

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- At first Kyle Seager anticipated the worst possible outcome. He thought his long fly ball in the eighth inning was going to be caught.

He was wrong.

The third baseman had three hits, but it was his three-run homer that highlighted a five-run, eighth-inning rally to propel the Seattle Mariners to a 9-6 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday at SunTrust Park.

"To be honest, I thought he caught it," Seager said. "I didn't see it until it bounced."

Seattle entered the inning trailing 6-5 and rallied against former Atlanta closer Jim Johnson, who allowed each of the four batters he faced to reach base.

Seager then greeted rookie reliever Dan Winkler with an opposite-field homer that bounced off the top of the wall, just out of the grasp of center fielder Ender Inciarte.

"In that situation with a guy on third, it's a really big run there, so you try to stay in the middle of the field and get a ball out there and get it in the air," Seager said.

Seattle won two of the three games against the Braves and finished the season with a 12-8 interleague record.

The winning pitcher was David Phelps, who was reinstated from the disabled list before the game. Phelps (2-1 with Seattle, 4-5 overall) worked two-thirds of an inning and did not allow a run for the seventh time in eight appearances since being acquired by the Mariners.

Edwin Diaz pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn his 29th save. He struck out the side in the ninth

Johnson (6-3) took the loss. He was charged with four runs on three hits and a walk. Johnson has allowed four runs in each of his past two appearances and 11 runs in his past four games. It was the ninth time he has blown a lead and left the game to a chorus of boos.

"Location, sink, ball not sinking," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said, reciting Johnson's problems. "They've been working hard in the bullpen, hoping some of that might pay off today and it didn't."

Snitker opted to stay away from Jose Ramirez and Arodys Vizcaino, who have been Atlanta's most reliable relievers of late.

"Felt like they had had a lot," Snitker said. "Trying to get around those guys."

The Braves had taken the lead with two runs in the seventh against reliever Marc Rzepczynski. One run scored on a double by Matt Kemp, the other on an infield out by Brandon Phillips.

Atlanta scored once in the eighth on Freddie Freeman's RBI single and had two runners on base, but Diaz struck out pinch hitter Matt Adams to end the threat.

Seattle starter Erasmo Ramirez allowed three runs in the first two innings before righting himself. From the third through fifth innings, he allowed just two hits and at one point retired nine consecutive batters.

Ramirez gave up three runs and six hits and struck out six, matching his season high, in six innings. It marked his third straight quality start.

He was just as impressive at the plate. He went 2-for-3 and became only the fourth pitcher in franchise history to get two hits in a game.

Atlanta starter R.A. Dickey gave up four runs in six innings, allowing 11 hits and two intentional walks. Dickey struck out six but managed to retire the side in order just once.

"It was a funny outing," Dickey said. "You have to accept it with that pitch. When a knuckleball goes up, the thing that it does off the bat, sometimes is bewildering. I felt like I should have given up a couple of runs at the most. I was happy that I bent but didn't break and gave us a chance."

Atlanta scored twice in the first inning on Freeman's double and a sacrifice fly from Nick Markakis.

Seattle answered with two runs in the second. Guillermo Heredia drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Ramirez singled and drove in a run, each the first of his career, to tie the game.

Atlanta made it 3-2 in the second inning when Dansby Swanson scored from third when Phillips hit a hard grounder to second base.

Seattle regained the lead with two runs in the third, as Seager and Mitch Haniger each had an RBI single.

NOTES: The Mariners designated OF Leonys Martin for assignment and activated RHP David Phelps from the 10-day disabled list. Phelps missed 14 games with right elbow impingement. ... Atlanta optioned LHP Max Fried to Triple-A Gwinnett and recalled LHP A.J. Minter. Minter pitched a scoreless inning and struck out two in his debut. ... Mariners 2B Robinson Cano doubled twice on Wednesday, giving him 507 for his career, which allowed him to pass Babe Ruth and move into 56th place on the all-time list. However, Cano was injured while running the bases and left the game with right hamstring tightness. He is day-to-day. ... Seattle LF Guillermo Heredia had to leave the game after being hit near the right elbow on a pitch from Jason Motte. ... Both teams are off on Thursday. Atlanta continues its homestand on Friday with the start of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies. Seattle continues its 12-game road trip against the New York Yankees.

Markakis, Sims lead Braves past Mariners

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- Nick Markakis feasted on Seattle Mariners pitching while in the American League with the Baltimore Orioles, and he is doing the same in interleague play for the Atlanta Braves.

Markakis hit a home run and had an RBI single as the Braves defeated the Mariners 4-0 behind rookie Lucas Sims' six spotless innings Tuesday night.

Markakis, who had three hits in the series opener Monday, has a career .326 average with six homers and 30 RBIs in 69 games against Seattle.

"We haven't made good pitches to him and he's taken advantage of them," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "He's a good player obviously and he had big hits again."

Sims (2-3) followed up his first victory Thursday at Colorado by giving up three hits and two walks Tuesday. The former first-round draft choice struck out four.

"They didn't swing at him real good," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "He never stops pitching. He pulls that cap down and competes. He's come a long way. He's worked his tail off."

Markakis' homer came in the fourth inning, and his run-scoring single in the fifth staked Sims to a lead in the right-hander's fourth major league start.

"He always moves on the next pitch. That's hard to do," Braves catcher Tyler Flowers said of Sims. "I know some vets who don't do that. That's going to help him throughout his career."

The Mariners, who won 6-5 on Monday despite four errors, handed the Braves unearned runs in the sixth and seventh innings with two more miscues.

Ozzie Albies was trapped rounding third on a single by Ender Inciarte in the sixth, but he scored when Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager couldn't handle a throw from catcher Mike Zunino.

Freddie Freeman had a RBI single in the seventh after center fielder Mitch Haniger dropped Brandon Phillips' fly ball. Freeman was 2-for-3 with a walk, extending his hitting streak to 11 games.

"We just haven't played clean baseball," Servais said. "We've got to tighten that up. We got away with it the first game. Tonight it got us."

Left-hander Marco Gonzales, making his fourth start for the Mariners after a trade from St. Louis, needed 99 pitches in make it through 4 2/3 innings.

Gonzales (0-1) was charged with two runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out five.

Markakis delivered a two-out RBI single in the fifth to make it 2-0. The hit came off the first pitch lefty reliever James Pazos after Gonzales gave up a walk to Freeman and Matt Kemp's second single of the game.

Markakis picked on a 3-2 changeup Gonzales left in the middle of the plate and pulled his eighth homer of the season over the 16-foot wall in right field to put the Braves ahead in the fourth.

Markakis has hit in 10 of his last 11 games, batting .375.

Robinson Cano led off the top of the inning for the Mariners with a double, but was stranded there when left fielder Kemp made a diving catch to rob Nelson Cruz and Sims retired the next two batters.

"Their guy threw a good ball game," Servais said. "He kept us off balance and threw a good sinker. Our guys had a tough time squaring him up."

It was the first home win for Sims, an Atlanta native.

"It seems like with each start there's so much to learn," Sims said. "You take a little bit from each one and try to better yourself."

NOTES: DH/OF Nelson Cruz, who was 0-for-4 to snap a 12-game hitting streak, started in right field for the fifth time in eight interleague road games for the Mariners. He previously played the field for two games each at Washington and Colorado. ... Seattle placed RHP Tony Zych (right flexor strain) on the 10-day disabled list. ... RHP Dan Altavilia, recalled from Triple-A Tacoma by the Mariners, pitched two innings, allowing two hits and an unearned run. ... RHP R.A. Dickey (8-8, 3.98 ERA) will start Wednesday's series finale for the Braves against RHP Erasmo Ramirez (5-4, 4.52). Ramirez has made four starts for the Mariners since being reacquired from Tampa Bay.

Mariners keep Rays in spiral

(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- When Nelson Cruz gets hot, it's the kind of record-setting hot that is measured in ridiculous distances.

Cruz launched a 482-foot home run in the ninth inning Friday, the longest ever recorded at Tropicana Field, punctuating the Seattle Mariners' 7-1 win over the slumping Tampa Bay Rays.

"It's great when he gets hot, because they're not just singles, they're doubles and home runs," Seattle manager Scott Servais said after Cruz hit not only his 30th home run of the season but two doubles as well. "The ones he hit in Minnesota last year were pretty far too. He's just seeing the ball really good right now, in a rhythm at the plate. We certainly need him."

A return home did little to slow down Tampa Bay's recent slump.

Mariners starter Erasmo Ramirez (5-4) faced the team that traded him away last month and held them to one run on three hits. Seattle (62-61) stayed in the American League wild-card chase while the Rays (60-64) dropped to a season-high four games under .500, having lost 11 of their last 14 overall and eight of their last 10 at home.

"We knew the guy on the mound pretty well," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "He's done it multiple times for us, and it stings probably a little more when you have it done to you. He was sharp and he was good."

Tampa Bay starter Austin Pruitt (6-4) found himself down 3-0 in a 33-pitch first inning, but helped the bullpen by lasting seven innings. He threw 107 pitches, 77 for strikes. Those strikes too often turned into Mariners hits -- they had 11, four more than Pruitt had allowed in any previous start. That included six doubles, with two each from Cruz and Mike Zunino.

"It's huge," Cruz said of starting a 12-game road trip with a win. "Every time, it starts with the pitching. Erasmo and the bullpen did the job today."

The Rays, blanked five times in their previous eight home games, managed to avoid the shutout, thanks to Lucas Duda's sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. They have scored a total of 24 runs in their 3-11 slide, less than two runs per game. Catcher Wilson Ramos had three of Tampa Bay's four hits on Friday.

A day after the Rays left 14 runners on base, they didn't have many opportunities to strand anyone. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with one out in the second inning, but Adeiny Hechavarria could only pop out to shallow center -- not deep enough to send the runner at third -- and Daniel Robertson popped out to right field to end the inning.

Former Rays pitcher Ramirez, acquired by the Mariners last month, followed with three straight 1-2-3 innings before Kevin Kiermaier doubled to lead off the sixth.

Seattle's bats had no such trouble, however, as they tagged Pruitt for three runs in the first inning. Cruz stroked an RBI double past Rays center fielder Kiermaier -- back for the first time in more than two months. Kyle Seager followed with an RBI groundout and Danny Valencia made it 3-0 with an infield single.

The Mariners added two more runs in the fourth. Ben Gamel walked, Guillermo Heredia doubled and Zunino brought both in with a two-run double for a 5-0 lead.

Gamel added another run in the fifth with an RBI single.

"All that matters is to win ballgames right now, and we didn't, so that's the main storyline tonight," Kiermaier said. "I felt good out there. I felt good in the box, defensively and on the bases."

NOTES: Before the game, the Rays activated OF Kevin Kiermaier from the 60-day disabled list. He'd been sidelined since June 9 with a fractured hip, and the Rays optioned Mallex Smith to Triple-A Durham to make room. ... RHP Matt Andriese, making a rehab start in Class A Charlotte as he recovers from a hip injury, took a comebacker off his ankle in the first inning and left the game. ... Seattle not only came in at 61-61, but is 30-30 since starting the season 31-31. They went into the Rays series with an 8-8-2 record in road series. ... Friday's game kicks off a 14-day, 12-game road trip, Seattle's longest of the season and longest since 2010.

Alonso, Martin power Mariners past Orioles

(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- Yonder Alonso finally got his welcome-to-Seattle moment.

Alonso went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs as the Mariners defeated the Baltimore Orioles 7-6 Wednesday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series.

Alonso, an All-Star acquired Aug. 6 from Oakland for minor league outfielder Boog Powell, hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning, his 23rd of the season and his first with the Mariners, to snap a 1-1 tie. Alonso's run-scoring single in the next inning gave Seattle a 5-4 lead.

Leonys Martin also homered and made a key catch in the ninth inning for the Mariners, who won the last two games of the series to get back to the .500 mark at 61-61 and remain in the American League's wild-card race.

"Obviously it was a crazy week, going from one side to the other side," said Alonso, who joined the Mariners while they were playing in Oakland. "These guys made it easy for me. I'm enjoying my time here and enjoying playing with this team with what's at stake."

Alonso batted just .192 in his first seven games with the Mariners before breaking out Wednesday.

"I think he's been swinging the bat great the last three or four days," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "He looks like the guy we saw early this year in Oakland."

Alonso wasn't the only standout for Seattle.

Reliever Tony Zych (6-3) got the victory and Marc Rzepczynski earned his first save.

The Mariners brought in Edwin Diaz with a three-run lead in the ninth, but he couldn't close it out.

Diaz walked the first three batters he faced to bring up Manny Machado with the bases loaded.

Machado drove the ball to right-center, with right fielder Martin making a sliding catch to limit the damage to one run on the sacrifice fly.

"That was definitely the play of the game," Servais said. "(Center fielder Jarrod) Dyson has an issue with his groin and is not running his best. Leonys tracked that play."

Said Martin: "Dyson doesn't feel good right now, so I was trying to take care of my guy."

Diaz caught Jonathan Schoop looking at a called third strike for the second out but hit Trey Mancini on a check swing with a 3-2 pitch to re-load the bases. Diaz then hit Mark Trumbo with a pitch as the Orioles closed within a run.

The Mariners summoned the left-handed Rzepczynski to face left-handed-hitting Chris Davis. Rzepczynski struck out Davis on three straight pitches, the last a called strike.

"A couple of those pitches were right down the middle and I got away with it," Rzepczynski said. "I've come in with the bases loaded and two outs plenty of times, but never in the ninth inning. My only other career save was a four-out save. I just tried to go out there and attack."

Both starters, Baltimore's Ubaldo Jimenez (5-8) and Seattle's Marco Gonzales, went just 4 1/3 innings.

Jimenez gave up six runs on eight hits, with one walk and two strikeouts. Gonzales allowed four runs on nine hits, with no walks and one strikeout.

Baltimore's Tim Beckham led off the game with a home run, the second time he has done so in the series. It was Beckham's 17th homer of the season.

The Mariners tied the score in the third, as Mike Zunino led off with a double and scored two outs later on a double by Guillermo Heredia.

Nelson Cruz was hit by a pitch from Jimenez leading off the fourth, and Alonso followed with a 411-foot blast into the right-field seats, giving Seattle a 3-1 lead.

Gonzales struck out the leadoff batter in the fifth, then yielded five consecutive hits as the Orioles took a 4-3 advantage. That included a run-scoring triple by Craig Gentry, the No. 9 batter in the order. Beckham's run-scoring single brought home Gentry with the go-ahead run.

The Mariners responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead.

Jean Segura led off with a single and Heredia was then hit by a pitch. Robinson Cano followed with a run-scoring single, tying it at 4-4.

An out later, Alonso beat a defensive shift by squibbing a run-scoring single to left field. Danny Valencia followed by lining an RBI single to right to make it 6-4.

The Mariners added their final run as Martin led off the sixth with a solo homer off Orioles reliever Richard Bleier.

"One of those games you can look back on seven or eight things during the course of the game," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter, whose team went 4-6 on its 10-game trip and is still in the AL playoff hunt at 59-62. "But you know what, we're headed back to Baltimore. It's been a long trip and we have a chance to roll the dice the last six weeks, and that's what we hope to do -- compete with a chance to play in October. We're still engaged in it."

NOTES: Mariners manager Scott Servais was ejected by first base umpire Stu Scheurwater in the ninth inning for arguing whether Trey Mancini swung at the 3-2 pitch that hit him. ... Mariners CF Guillermo Heredia was hit on the right forearm by a pitch in the fifth inning. He was replaced by Jarrod Dyson in the field in the top of the next inning. ... The Mariners went 2-5 on their homestand, the only seven games they have at Safeco Field this month. ... The Orioles and Mariners are both idle Thursday. The Orioles return home and open a three-game series Friday against the Los Angeles Angels. The Mariners begin a 12-game trip Friday at Tampa Bay. ... Mariners RHP Christian Bergman, designated for assignment Tuesday, cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Tacoma.

Mariners hope Gonzales goes long against Orioles

(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners might be ready to unleash Marco Gonzales.

The left-hander, acquired in a July 21 trade with the St. Louis Cardinals for minor league outfielder Tyler O'Neill, one of the Mariners' top prospects, has yet to finish five innings in either of his first two starts for Seattle.

Gonzales (0-0, 8.49 ERA overall) is scheduled to take the mound Wednesday afternoon against Baltimore right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (5-7, 6.25 ERA) in the finale of the three-game series at Safeco Field.

"I'm definitely looking forward to (pitching deeper in games)," said Gonzales, the Cardinals' first-round draft pick in 2013 out of Gonzaga. "I know I can be a guy who goes seven or eight innings.

"But I understand the situation and where we're at (in the American League wild-card race)."

In his first start Aug. 6 in Kansas City, Gonzales was staked to a 7-0 lead through two innings. He allowed two runs in the third, and the Royals scored three more in the fifth, knocking Gonzales from the game. The Mariners ended up winning 8-7.

On Friday against the Los Angeles Angels, the score was tied at 1-1 with one out in the fifth when Gonzales was pulled before facing the top of the batting order for the third time. The Mariners lost that one 6-5.

"The first time I had some nerves, just trying to get my bearings," Gonzales said. "The second time I was calmer and had a clear plan of what I wanted to do."

Said Mariners manager Scott Servais: "He left the game on a positive note last time. He felt he had plenty left in the tank."

Servais said he would have no qualms about letting Gonzales pitch five-plus innings Wednesday.

"If he's throwing good, he has the weapons to get out of trouble," Servais said. "I'm pretty confident in letting him go."

Jimenez, meanwhile, has pitched much better of late.

He got a no-decision in his last outing, striking out a season-high 11 in 5 1/3 innings against the Oakland A's on Friday. He beat the Detroit Tigers in his previous start, allowing one run in 5 2/3 innings.

Over his past four starts, Jimenez is 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 24 innings.

"He's commanding the fastball well," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "When you can locate the fastball on both sides of the plate, (batters) have to cheat in or cheat away, making them more susceptible to the breaking stuff. A lot of guys can't locate, that's why they end up in the bullpen."

The Mariners snapped a season-high five-game losing streak Tuesday as Andrew Albers, making his 2017 debut, allowed one run in five innings. Seattle won 3-1 to even the series, getting four perfect innings from its bullpen.

Gonzales will be making his first career appearance against the Orioles.

"The pitcher always had the advantage with the unknown," Showalter said. "Guys like (Albers and Gonzales) give you the most trouble because they come at you from a different perspective."

Jimenez is 2-3 with a 5.85 ERA in seven career starts against the Mariners.

Albers, Mariners shut down Orioles

(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- Andrew Albers did his best James Paxton impression for the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.

Albers, 31, acquired in a minor league trade with the Atlanta Braves last Friday, took the injured Paxton's spot in the rotation and allowed just one run in five innings as the Mariners earned a 3-1 victory against the Baltimore Orioles at Safeco Field.

Seattle snapped its season-high, five-game losing streak.

Albers, who, like Paxton, is a left-hander from Canada who attended the University of Kentucky, was making his first appearance in the majors this season. He was a Paxton-like 12-3 with a 2.61 ERA for Triple-A Gwinnett; Paxton was 12-3 with a 2.78 ERA for the Mariners when he was placed on the disabled list on Friday with a strained left pectoral muscle.

Albers allowed six hits and one walk while striking out four.

"You're seeing the maturity of a guy who's been in the big leagues before. He did his job," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "We're looking for guys to get us to that point, and the bullpen was fresh and took it from there."

Four Seattle relievers combined for four perfect innings as the final 20 Baltimore batters were retired in order.

Mariners righty Emilio Pagan pitched two innings, fanning four. Pagan came out for a third inning but was lifted for left-hander Marc Rzepczynski after Baltimore pinch hitter Seth Smith was announced to lead off the eighth. Rzepczynski got Smith to fly out to center field and handed the ball to Nick Vincent, who got Tim Beckham to fly out to right and Manny Machado to line out to center.

Edwin Diaz worked a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 26th save of the season, striking out Trey Mancini to end the game.

The way the game started, it didn't appear Albers would last long.

Jonathan Schoop gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead with a solo homer with two outs in the top of the first inning, his 26th of the season. Schoop hit an 0-1 changeup from Albers into the Baltimore bullpen in left field. It was one of three hits by the Orioles in the inning, but a double play helped limit the damage.

Albers allowed two more hits in the second, but no runs.

"It wasn't pretty, it was a grind," Albers said of the first couple of innings. "That's how the game goes sometimes. You've got to persevere through that and stick with the game plan."

He faced more trouble in the third.

Machado led off by dumping a double down the right field line among three fielders, and Schoop walked.

Adam Jones then lined out to center field, with Machado tagging from third. Center fielder Jarrod Dyson made a one-hop throw to the plate from 288 feet, with catcher Mike Zunino applying the tag for the out.

"That was game-changing at that point," Albers said. "I was jogging to back up the plate thinking they were going to score and then ... 'Wow, what a throw!'

"You get out of that only down one instead of behind 2-0 and get back at it with the sticks."

The Mariners tied it at 1-1 in the fourth. Guillermo Heredia led off with a double to left field, moved to third on a groundout to the right side by Robinson Cano and scored when Nelson Cruz grounded a single into left field. It was Cruz's AL-leading 96th RBI.

Seattle took the lead in the next inning.

Danny Espinosa led off with a double to right-center. Dyson bunted down the third base line, and pitcher Wade Miley bobbled the ball as he attempted to get the lead runner. That left Mariners runners at first and third with no outs.

Jean Segura grounded a run-scoring single to left to make it 2-1. Dyson advanced to third on a fielder's choice by Heredia and scored as Cano also grounded into a fielder's choice to give the Mariners a 3-1 advantage. Heredia took out Orioles shortstop Beckham at second base on the play to thwart any chance at a double play.

A walk to Cruz ended the night for Miley, a former Mariner. The left-hander went 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out four.

"We only scored one run. That's kind of the story of the game for me," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "Not many opportunities, but couldn't cash in on the ones we did (have)."

NOTES: Mariners 3B Kyle Seager wasn't in the lineup because of what manager Scott Servais called "some sort of stomach virus." ... The Mariners made a series of roster moves Tuesday. LHP Andrew Albers was selected from Triple-A Tacoma to make the start against the Orioles, and RHP Sam Gaviglio was recalled from the Rainiers to serve as a long reliever. RHP Casey Lawrence and RHP Thyago Vieira, who made his major league debut Monday night, were optioned to Tacoma. To make room on the 40-man roster for Albers, RHP Christian Bergman was designated for assignment. ... Orioles manager Buck Showalter was inducted, in absentia, into the New York-Penn League Hall of Fame on Tuesday at the league's All-Star Game. ... The Orioles are scheduled to send RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (5-7, 6.25 ERA) to the mound for the Wednesday afternoon series finale against Mariners LHP Marco Gonzales (0-0, 6.48 ERA).

Gausman, Machado lead Orioles past Mariners

(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- When a team wins 11-3, the manager usually doesn't point to his starting pitcher getting out of jam in the first inning as the key to the game.

However, Baltimore's Buck Showalter is not the typical manager.

After the Orioles' Tim Beckham led off the game by hitting the first pitch from Seattle's Yovani Gallardo out of the park, Baltimore starter Kevin Gausman ran into problems of his own in the bottom of the inning.

Jean Segura and Yonder Alonso hit back-to-back doubles to tie the score, and Robinson Cano reached on a single that fell just in front of right fielder Seth Smith.

Alonso had to wait about 10 feet off the base to see if the ball was going to be caught and nearly was thrown out scrambling to get back to second, with shortstop Beckham's throw sailing into right field for an error.

That put runners at second and third with no outs, and Nelson Cruz, the American League's RBI leader, coming to the plate.

Gausman responded by striking out Cruz and Kyle Seager, the Nos. 4-5 batters in the Seattle lineup, then got Guillermo Heredia to ground out to short to end the inning.

The Orioles scored six runs in the second, highlighted by a Manny Machado grand slam, and cruised from there.

"I told (Gausman) when I took him out of the game, 'That's the ballgame, you won the game in the bottom of the first,'" Showalter said. "You know, a lot happened between then and the end, but that was huge. He got back off the mound to collect himself and try to minimize the damage and get us back in the dugout."

Showalter also pointed to a play in the bottom of the fifth, after the Orioles took a 10-1 lead.

Mike Zunino hit a solo homer leading off the inning, and speedy Jarrod Dyson walked. Segura flied out to the warning track in center field, and Dyson tried to tag and take second. Adam Jones threw out Dyson, thwarting any comeback hopes.

"Adam made a big play throwing a guy out at second, believe it or not, because there was some momentum working in that inning," Showalter said. "They've got such a lethal lineup, you know just how quickly leads can evaporate ... especially on the road."

Gausman (9-8) pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out six.

"I knew if I made good, quality pitches I had a chance to get out of the (first) inning," Gausman said. "When I get a lead like that, I need to shut the door. In New York, I got a 9-1 lead and then it's 9-9. You have to win that game and grind through it."

Seth Smith and Trey Mancini also homered for Baltimore (59-60), which moved past the Mariners (59-61) -- who dropped to 0-5 on their seven-game homestand -- in the American League playoff race. The Orioles closed within two games of the idle Los Angeles Angels for the second and final AL wild-card berth.

"We've had our ups and downs, injuries, guys not producing like they should be," said Machado, whose homer was his 23rd of the season and his second slam (sixth career). "We just need to keep doing what we're doing. (Gausman) gave us an opportunity to go out there and do some damage. He's pitching well."

Gallardo (5-8), acquired from Baltimore in an offseason trade for Smith, allowed eight runs on nine hits in four-plus innings. He walked one and struck out four.

Beckham opened the game with a shot over the right field wall. It was his 16th homer of the season and his first career leadoff homer.

The Orioles pulled away with a six-run second off Gallardo, sending 11 batters to the plate.

With one out, Mark Trumbo doubled to center field. Chris Davis hit an RBI double off the wall in left, just over the outstretched glove of Heredia. A single by Smith moved Davis to third, and Davis scored on Caleb Joseph's chopper up the third base line.

A single to right by Beckham loaded the bases for Machado, who hammered a 1-2 pitch from Gallardo over the Mariners' bullpen and the out-of-town scoreboard in left field. The ball was caught by a fan sitting in the front row of the second deck, 430 feet from the plate.

The Orioles extended the lead to 10-1 in the fifth.

Jones led off the inning with a double, ending Gallardo's night.

Reliever Casey Lawrence struck out the first two batters he faced before Davis hit a run-scoring single up the middle and Smith launched a two-run homer to right field, his 12th of the season.

Zunino hit his 18th homer of the season, a solo shot leading off the bottom of the fifth, to make it 10-2.

Mancini led off the seventh by hitting Lawrence's first pitch over the right field wall. It was Mancini's 21st homer.

Cruz closed the scoring with a solo shot leading off the bottom of the ninth. It was his 29th of the season and increased his RBI total to 95.

"Obviously, we have not played well at home over the past five games, for a number of reasons," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "We had a chance to get on their starter early in the first inning, that's when they're most vulnerable, and we got one. Then they put up a big number on Gallardo."

NOTES: Seattle SS Jean Segura fouled a ball off his left shin in the fifth inning and had to be attended to by manager Scott Servais and trainer Rick Griffin. Segura stayed in the game. ... CF Adam Jones had two hits to give him 1,575 with the Orioles, passing Boog Powell for fifth in franchise history. ... The Mariners recalled RHP Thyago Vieira from Triple-A Tacoma and optioned RHP Christian Bergman to the Rainiers. Vieira, 24, became the fourth Brazilian-born player to ever appear in the major leagues, and the second pitcher, when he made his debut with a scoreless ninth inning. ... Orioles LHP Wade Miley (6-9, 5.19 ERA) faces Mariners LHP Andrew Albers (2017 debut) on Tuesday.

Angels complete sweep of Mariners

(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- Parker Bridwell pitched six strong innings to avenge his lone major league loss as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-2 Sunday afternoon at Safeco Field.

C.J. Cron homered for the Angels (61-58), who completed a four-game sweep in which they moved into sole possession of the American League's second and final wild-card playoff berth.

Trailing 4-1, the Mariners threatened in the ninth off Angels reliever Keynan Middleton, the rookie right-hander who had earned victories the previous two nights.

Robinson Cano led off by legging out an infield single and Nelson Cruz followed with a double into left-center field, the ball rolling all the way to the wall. After Kyle Seager struck out, Jarrod Dyson slapped a run-scoring single to left field.

Middleton, an Oregon native with friends and family in attendance, responded by getting Guillermo Heredia to fly out to shallow left field and Leonys Martin to fly out to right. Middleton earned his second save of the season.

Bridwell (7-1), a rookie right-hander acquired in an April 17 trade with Baltimore, allowed one run on four hits. He walked one and struck out two.

The Angels improved to 10-1 in games in which Bridwell pitches. The only loss came June 30 against the Mariners at Angel Stadium, when Bridwell allowed a career-high five earned runs on 11 hits in six innings of a 10-0 defeat.

Seattle scored its lone run Sunday off Bridwell in the first inning. Yonder Alonso walked with one out, moved to third on a double by Cano and came home on a sacrifice fly by Cruz, who leads the AL in RBIs with 94

Bridwell retired the side in order in the second and third innings and overcame leadoff singles in each of his final three innings. He got out of each of those situations by retiring the next three batters after the leadoff hits.

The Mariners' beleaguered bullpen, which allowed 13 runs in the first three games of the series, could have used a lengthy start by Ariel Miranda.

But the left-hander failed to deliver.

Miranda (7-6), who hasn't won since June 30, was in trouble from the beginning.

Cameron Maybin doubled to the wall in right-center on Miranda's first pitch of the game, then Mike Trout walked. Miranda got out of the jam and stranded two more runners in the second.

With one out in the third, Miranda fell behind in the count 2-0 to Cron, who then launched a 415-foot homer off the facade of the second deck in left field to tie the score at 1-1. It was Cron's ninth homer of the season.

Miranda escaped after a leadoff walk in the fourth, but never made it out of the fifth.

After a walk to Trout, the third leadoff walk issued by Miranda in five innings, Albert Pujols singled -- the ball glancing off of the glove of diving Seattle left fielder Heredia. After Cron struck out, Andrelton Simmons lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Angels a 2-1 lead.

A walk to Jefry Marte spelled the end for Miranda, who had been 4-0 in five previous starts against the Angels. Miranda walked six and struck out six in 4 2/3 innings. Of his 96 pitches, only 50 were strikes.

Left-hander James Pazos came on and walked Kole Calhoun to load the bases. Martin Maldonado fouled off a couple of two-strike pitches before lining a two-run single to left-center, making it 4-1.

NOTES: The Angels swept a four-game series in Seattle for the first time since May 24-27, 2012. ... Mariners 2B Robinson Cano hit his 504th career double in the first inning, tying him with Roberto Alomar for 59th in major league history. With three more doubles, Cano will pass Alomar, Tony Perez and Babe Ruth, three Hall of Famers... The Mariners open a three-game series Monday against Baltimore at Safeco Field. Right-hander Yovani Gallardo (5-7, 5.38 ERA) is scheduled to start against his former team, facing Orioles RHP Kevin Gausman (8-8, 5.21). ... The Angels have Monday off before a two-game interleague series in Washington. LHP Tyler Skaggs (1-2, 3.63) is scheduled to pitch Tuesday for L.A.

Pujols, bullpen helps Angels defeat Mariners

(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- The Los Angeles Angels have certainly won the battle of the bullpens against the Seattle Mariners in this series.

Albert Pujols hit a two-run double to break a tie in the eighth inning and Angels relievers combined for four scoreless innings for the second straight night in a 6-3 victory Saturday at Safeco Field.

The Angels (60-58) won their fifth straight game and took sole possession of the American League's second and final wild-card berth.

The Mariners (59-59) lost their third in a row. They are tied with Tampa Bay and Kansas City, one game behind the Angels, and one-half game behind Minnesota.

Keynan Middleton (4-0), an Oregon native pitching in front of family and friends, retired the only batter he faced, getting Nelson Cruz on a broken-bat groundout to end the seventh, to claim his second victory in as many days.

After Blake Parker pitched a scoreless eighth, Cam Bedrosian did the same in the ninth for his fifth save of the season.

"We just know at some point we're going to get the ball every night," Middleton said. "We're going to do our jobs because we're in this and going to make this wild-card thing exciting."

The Angels' bullpen is 3-0 and has allowed three runs in 10 1/3 innings in the series. Mariners relievers are 0-3 and have allowed 13 runs (12 earned) in 10 2/3 innings.

"Our bullpen ... these guys keep taking the ball and making pitches. Keynan did a great job on Cruz," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We're not going to get there (the postseason) unless the bullpen is pitching as it has. They've been very effective."

The Angels' winning rally came in the eighth, an inning earlier than the previous two nights.

Ben Revere and Mike Trout walked to open the eighth against Mariners reliever Tony Zych (5-3). Pujols then lined a shot into left-center field that rolled to the wall, scoring both runners. After Kole Calhoun singled to right, Pujols scored on a sacrifice fly by Andrelton Simmons.

"Obviously, it didn't end the way we were hoping," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "Tony Zych has kind have been our guy in that spot but the walks hurt. We've had a few of those over the past few nights. Didn't get it done, didn't execute pitches and they came back and got us. ... We've got to find a way to finish games."

Trailing 3-1, the Angels tied it in the seventh when Luis Valbuena hit a two-run homer off reliever Casey Lawrence. It was Valbuena's 12th homer of the season and his 12th career against Seattle in 159 at-bats.

"Luis is going to drive the ball, he's going to take walks when they're there," Scioscia said of Valbuena, who is batting .187. "He's hit some big home runs, that's a huge home run tonight to get us back in the game."

The Mariners' bullpen spoiled an outstanding start by Erasmo Ramirez, who allowed an unearned run and three hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out one.

The Mariners nearly regained the lead in the bottom of the inning as Yonder Alonso hit a one-out single to right field and tried to score on Robinson Cano's double into right-center field. But Alonso was thrown out at the plate by a strong relay throw from Simmons.

"Throwing out Alonso is a huge play," Scioscia said. "You've got two tremendous arms in Kole Calhoun and Andrelton Simmons ... and (catcher) Martin Maldonado made a nice pick and tag. That's a huge play for us at the time, no doubt."

That wasn't the only out on the bases for the Mariners, who saw Jarrod Dyson and Leonys Martin get caught stealing in the sixth inning, the latter being picked off.

The Mariners opened the scoring in the third after Martin led off with a walk. Two outs later, Cano also walked before Nelson Cruz lined a run-scoring single to left field. Kyle Seager followed with a run-scoring single to right.

The Angels got one run back in the fifth, thanks to some slopping fielding.

C.J. Cron led off with a double to left-center field, but it appeared he'd be stranded when Valbuena grounded out and Maldonado flied out to shallow right.

Cron, who had moved to third on the groundout, scored when Kaleb Cowart, the No. 9 batter in the lineup, hit a grounder to Alonso at first base. Although he had plenty of time to make an underhand toss to Ramirez, Alonso tried to flip the ball from his glove. The flip was high and caromed off Ramirez's glove, allowing Cowart to reach on the error and the Angels to pull within 2-1.

The Mariners regained the two-run advantage with two outs in the bottom of the inning as Seager hit a solo homer to right-center field, his 18th home run of the season.

JC Ramirez went five innings for the Angels, allowing three runs and seven hits. He walked three and struck out four.

NOTES: The Mariners retired hitting coach Edgar Martinez's jersey No. 11 in a pregame ceremony. ... The Ramirez vs. Ramirez matchup was the first time Nicaraguan-born starting pitchers faced each other since 1984. ... The Angels activated RHP Andrew Bailey, who spent four months on the disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder. Bailey was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in three appearances before being sidelined. To make room on the roster for Bailey, OF Cesar Puello was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake. ... The Mariners selected the contract of RHP Christian Bergman from Triple-A Tacoma and optioned rookie RHP Andrew Moore back to Tacoma. Moore was called up a day earlier, giving up four runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings of his first career relief appearance Friday night. ... Angels RHP Parker Bridwell (6-1, 3.00 ERA) is scheduled to face Mariners LHP Ariel Miranda (7-5, 4.65) on Sunday afternoon in the finale of the four-game series.

Trout's late double lifts Angels over Mariners

(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- With the score tied, two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth inning, there are just some players a pitcher doesn't want to face.

Count Mike Trout among them, and perhaps at the top of the list.

After Seattle Mariners closer Edwin Diaz walked three batters in the ninth Thursday night, Trout hit a three-run double, giving the Los Angeles Angels a 6-3 victory at Safeco Field.

"Best player in the game, wouldn't want anybody else up," Angels starter Tyler Skaggs, who pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings, said of Trout. "He just puts the team on his back. It's a pleasure playing with him."

After Seattle rallied from a three-run deficit to tie it in the eighth, the Mariners brought on Diaz (2-5), who was working his third consecutive game.

Diaz walked Cliff Pennington and Kole Calhoun before getting two forceouts on the basepaths. A walk on a 3-2 pitch to Cameron Maybin brought up Trout.

"Edwin Diaz has been electric for us, but walks hurt him tonight," Mariners manager Scott Servais said.

Trout lined an 0-1 pitch over third baseman Kyle Seager and down the left field line to snap the tie.

"After a couple of walks, I took a strike. I wanted to see one (pitch)," Trout said. "When I saw a slider pop up, I hit a double."

C.J. Cron and Andrelton Simmons homered for the Angels (58-58), who moved within a game of Seattle and Tampa Bay (both 59-57) for the American League's second and final wild-card berth.

"We know they're in front of us and this series is big," Trout said. "We just keep picking each other up. We're coming to the ballpark ready to win."

Cam Bedrosian pitched the bottom of the ninth for his fourth save of the season.

The Mariners, who saw starter James Paxton leave in the seventh inning with a strained pectoral muscle, tied it in the eighth on home runs by Jean Segura and Nelson Cruz off Bud Norris (2-5), whose recent struggles continued.

With one out, Segura hit a solo homer over the center field fence, his seventh of the season.

An out later, Robinson Cano doubled to left-center field, bringing Cruz to the plate and a visit to the mound by Angels pitching coach Charles Nagy.

Cruz crushed a 1-0 pitch 426 feet over the wall in right center for a two-run homer, making it 3-3. It was Cruz's team-leading 27th homer of the season and his fifth in the past five games.

It was the third and fourth homers allowed by Norris in his past seven appearances, with the other two grand slams. Norris has allowed 13 runs on 11 hits in just 4 2/3 innings in that span to lose his job as the Angels' closer.

"We're going to take a look at what's going on with Bud," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's getting ahead in counts and has got good stuff. ... He should be (doing) better. Hopefully, it's just a half-step back."

Norris' troubles spoiled an outstanding effort by Skaggs, who was making just his second start since missing more than three months with a right oblique strain.

The left-hander allowed five hits, walked three, struck out five and was aided by three double plays.

"I just have to cut down on the walks, but it's great to have that defense behind you," Skaggs said.

Skaggs was lifted after allowing a one-out double to Guillermo Heredia in the bottom of the seventh. Reliever Blake Parker got Ben Gamel to ground back to the mound and then struck out pinch hitter Yonder Alonso to end the inning.

Skaggs outdueled Paxton, who was bidding for his franchise record eighth victory in as many starts. Paxton left the game after 107 pitches with the injury.

In 6 1/3 innings, Paxton allowed three runs on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts.

"It hurts. He's been our guy," Servais said. "Fingers crossed that he's not going to miss much time."

NOTES: Mariners LHP James Paxton was trying to break the team mark of seven straight wins he shares with Scott Bankhead (1989) and Jamie Moyer (2003). ... Angels OF Mike Trout has hit safely in 21 of 24 games since coming off the disabled list. He is batting .367 in that stretch with seven home runs and 19 RBIs. ... The Angels called up INF Jefry Marte from Triple-A Salt Lake after sending down RHP Troy Scribner after the Wednesday game. ... Mariners LF Guillermo Heredia had his first career two-double game. ... Angels RHP Ricky Nolasco (5-12, 5.09 ERA) is scheduled to face Mariners LHP Marco Gonzales (0-0, 11.25) on Friday night in the second game of the series.

Cruz, Seager slug Mariners past Athletics

(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- Kyle Seager was on deck when Seattle Mariners teammate Nelson Cruz crushed a two-run, 450-foot home run into the left field seats in the third inning Wednesday afternoon against the Oakland Athletics.

"That's probably the loudest ball I've heard hit on a field," Seager said. "Just from where I was right there. I was pretty close to him, but it was a pop. It sounded like a shotgun. It was incredible just how fast it got out, just how hard he hit it. It was pretty special."

Cruz had yet another loud and special day against the A's, hitting his 25th and 26th home runs in the Mariners' 6-3 victory over the A's at the Oakland Coliseum. Seager did his part, launching a three-run blast in the first inning.

Cruz added a solo blast in the fifth for his second multi-homer game of the season and 23rd career.

"I feel 100 percent healthy," Cruz said. "Thank God. Hopefully I stay like that."

Cruz drove in three runs, giving him 22 RBIs in 13 games against the A's in 2017, the most by a Mariners' player versus Oakland in a single season. He has seven home runs against the A's this year and 29 for his career, his second highest total against any team. Cruz has a career-high 98 RBIs against the A's and Angels.

Cruz said he can't explain his success against the A's.

"I guess luck," Cruz said.

If that's the case, then Cruz has plenty of good luck against most teams in the major leagues.

"I don't think it's just the A's," Seager said. "I remember playing against him and he used to do it to us, too. He's a lot of fun to watch and you certainly want him on your team. He hit a ball I remember against us that I actually jumped for (at third base) and it ended up being a homer. He's incredible."

The Mariners (59-56) won for the fourth time in their past five contests and finished their nine-game road trip with a 6-3 mark after sweeping a two-game series from Oakland. They entered the day in a three-way tie for the second wild-card spot in the American League with Kansas City and Tampa Bay.

"I think once we were one-half game behind in the wild card, I think everybody just put the switch on," Cruz said. "Every little piece that we needed early in the year is clicking right now."

Mariners right-hander Yovani Gallardo allowed three runs on six hits, including two home runs, over 4 1/3 innings to receive a no-decision. He struck out three, walked two and threw 94 pitches.

Emilio Pagan (1-2) blanked the A's on one hit over 2 1/3 innings for his first major league victory. Tony Zych pitched a perfect eighth inning and Edwin Diaz a scoreless ninth for his 25th save.

Khris Davis hit his 31st home run, a solo shot in the third, and Matt Joyce added his 15th, a leadoff homer in the first, for the A's.

Oakland right-hander Jharel Cotton (5-9) allowed six runs on eight hits, including three home runs, over six innings. He struck out four and walked one in his third straight rough start since coming off the disabled list after recovering from a blister on his right thumb.

"The one to Seager was just a changeup not well executed," Cotton said. "The two to Cruz were not executed. Just three not executed pitches and it cost me today. Cost the team a victory."

The Mariners took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Seager's 17th home run of the season, a three-run shot into the right field seats. Jean Segura and Robinson Cano were on base with singles, and Seager delivered with two outs, driving Cotton's 1-2 changeup.

"He's got good stuff," Seager said of Cotton. "He's got a good changeup. We know about that. Fortunate for me, I was able to get one up in the zone and it worked out."

Oakland answered with Joyce's leadoff homer in the bottom of the first. Joyce led off a game with a homer for the third time this season and for the seventh time of his career.

Seattle increased its lead to 5-1 in the top of the third when Cano lined a leadoff single and Cruz crushed Cotton's belt-high, 90 mph fastball into the left field seats.

Davis cut Seattle's lead to 5-2 with his solo blast to right-center with two outs in the bottom of the inning.

Cruz made it 6-2 in the fifth with his second homer of the day off Cotton, a solo blast over the center-field fence with one out.

"The homers kind of did him in," A's manager Bob Melvin said of Cotton. "Other than that, we needed at least six innings out of our starter today. At the end he seemed like he got a little better. You just have to keep them down earlier, minimize the damage some."

Oakland responded with a run in the bottom of the third when Joyce lined a leadoff single and scored on Jed Lowrie's double. Before Lowrie brought Joyce home, left fielder Ben Gamel robbed Marcus Semien of a possible home run when he made a leaping catch and held on after slamming into the fence.

"That was a heck of a catch," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "He took off. No worries just throwing his body out there trying to make a play. He went after it, kind of like he's done all year."

NOTES: A's RHP Bobby Wahl (strained right shoulder) will be examined by Dr. Gregory Pearl, a vascular surgeon, in Dallas on Friday. Wahl has been on the DL since May 24 and missed his 69th game Wednesday. ... A's C Josh Phegley (strained left oblique) will likely begin a rehab assignment in a week or so, manager Bob Melvin said. Phegley has been on the disabled list since July 25. ... Mariners LHP Ariel Miranda entered play Wednesday leading the major-leagues in a dubious statistical category -- home runs allowed. He has surrendered 29 home runs, including two on Tuesday against Oakland. "It's not great," Mariners manager Scott Servais said Wednesday. "We got to try to address it. The home runs have certainly hurt. We need to get him back on track." ... Seattle 1B Yonder Alonso went 0-for-4 in his second game since being traded by Oakland to the Mariners.

Alonso likely to make Mariners debut in Oakland

Stats, LLC

(TSX / STATS) -- Yonder Alonso might struggle with the little things. Like where to park at the Oakland Coliseum. Which clubhouse door to take. When batting practice starts.

The Seattle Mariners hope the All-Star first baseman has no problem with the bigger things, like driving in runs.

The Mariners acquired Alonso in a trade with the Oakland Athletics on Sunday in exchange for minor league outfielder Boog Powell.

Alonso is expected to make his Mariners debut Tuesday when the teams open a two-game series in Oakland.

Alonso admitted Sunday he was stunned when told of the trade.

"Surprised but excited, going to a team that is one game out of the playoffs," Alonso said. "I get to play some meaningful baseball, which will be probably the first time in my career I'll be able to do that. I'm ecstatic."

In eight seasons with Cincinnati (2010-11), San Diego (2012-15) and Oakland (2016-17), Alonso has hit .269 with 61 home runs and 288 RBIs in 762 games.

The 30-year-old made his first All-Star Game this season, batting .266 with a career-high 22 homers and 49 RBIs in 100 games with the A's.

"Yonder fits our roster quite well," Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said after the trade was announced. "Obviously, he's had an excellent year to this point, an All-Star season, real breakout year for him. We are acquiring a bat that gives us a difference in the middle of our lineup.

The left-handed-hitting Alonso is likely to platoon with his former Oakland teammate Danny Valencia at first base. The two were friends when with the A's, and Valencia was one of the first players Alonso texted after learning of the deal.

"I feel like it's a complement he brings to our lineup, particularly the left-handed bat and how he pairs with Valencia, which they've done before," Dipoto said. "It's a balance he brings to our lineup, especially looking ahead, we've got quite a stretch of right-handed starters that we are seeing over the next three weeks. This is something we discussed for a length of time heading into the July 31 deadline. We felt like we were at the goal line to get a deal done. And through the August trade period, we were able to complete it."

Powell, originally drafted by Oakland in the 20th round in 2012, batted .194 in 23 games with the Mariners this season. He was hitting .340 at Triple-A Tacoma.

"Clearly they're going young, and they're going to be patient as well," Alonso said of the A's. "I think definitely the sky is the limit here with these young guys. There is a lot of talent in this clubhouse. ... The future is bright here."

The A's plan to call up Matt Olson and platoon him at first base with Ryon Healy.

"It's time for Matt Olson to get a chance to play here," A's manager Bob Melvin said Sunday. "A few years ago, this guy was our top prospect, and he does a lot of things really well. He's a great defender. He's having a good season, he gets on base. This kind of opens the door for him and Healy to match up at first base, and stays along with the theme that we're getting younger."

Olson, 23, is batting .272 with 23 homers and 60 RBIs in 79 games at Triple-A Nashville. In five previous stints with the A's this season, he hit .196 with four homers and nine RBIs.

"Obviously, I can't thank the Oakland A's enough for the opportunity they gave me," Alonso said. "They believed in me and helped me mature and recharge my career."

Alonso likely will make his Mariners debut in the series opener as Oakland is scheduled to start right-hander Kendall Graveman (2-3, 4.96 ERA). Graveman is 1-3 with a 4.82 ERA in eight career appearances against Seattle, including six starts. He has not faced the Mariners this season.

The Mariners are set to counter with left-hander Ariel Miranda (7-5, 4.41 ERA), who is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two career starts against the A's. He took the loss April 22 at Oakland, giving up four runs on seven hits in three innings during Seattle's 4-3 defeat.

Mariners RHPs Hernandez, Phelps to miss weeks of play

Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto today announced that RHP Felix Hernandez was diagnosed with bursitis in his right shoulder and is expected to miss three-to-four weeks.

Dipoto also announced that RHP David Phelps was diagnosed with an impingement in his right elbow. He is expected to miss two-to-three weeks.

Hernandez was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Saturday, August 5. Phelps was placed on the 10-day disabled list earlier today. Both players underwent testing yesterday in Seattle, and were examined by Mariners Medical Director E. Edward Khalfayan.

Cabrera, Hosmer lead Royals to DH split with M's

(TSX / STATS) -- KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City offense showed up big-time in a doubleheader Sunday split with the Seattle Mariners.

The Royals scored 16 runs and banged out 23 hits, including five home runs, in the two games.

Melky Cabrera and Eric Hosmer were a combined 6-for-9 with seven RBIs, and each hit a home run as the Royals routed the Seattle Mariners 9-1 in the second game. Seattle took the opener 8-7.

Cabrera hit a three-run homer in the third inning of the nightcap, and Whit Merrifield added a solo shot in the frame. Hosmer went deep in the sixth, and he and Cabrera each had a run-scoring hit in a four-run seventh.

"Our bats were OK in the first game," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "We scored seven and that just kind of picked right up, especially in the third inning with the four-spot. With Melky's home run, Whit's home run and Hos hitting that home run and adding runs late."

The first four Royals hitters -- Merrifield, Lorenzo Cain, Hosmer and Cabrera -- went 11-for-19 with three home runs, a double, eight RBIs and eight runs.

"A lot of offense at the top of the order," Yost said.

And that was the undoing of Mariners starter Erasmo Ramirez.

"The middle of their lineup we could not keep under control," Mariners manager Scott Servais said, whose team won split the four-game set at Kauffman Stadium. "We did a pretty good job in this series until the last game. Then they got their hits and drove in runs. They're good, and they got it going and we just couldn't stop them."

Jake Junis (4-2) picked up the victory, holding the Mariners to one run and four hits over eight innings.

"Spectacular," Yost said of Junis' performance. "His curveball and slider were his 'A' curveball and slider. He was getting easy outs. He managed his pitch count great. It was a big boost for us."

He retired the final 19 batters he faced, and his seven strikeouts were a career high. Junis, added to the roster as the Royals' 26th man for the doubleheader, didn't issue a walk.

"Later in the game, we were relying on two-seam fastballs to get ahead and let them swing the bat and get themselves out," Junis said. "I definitely felt like I hit my stride around the fifth inning, where I was getting some quick outs and some quick innings and a lot of momentum, and it just carried."

Ramirez (4-4) is winless since June 21. He surrendered five runs on eight hits, including three home runs, in five-plus innings.

"Melky got a fastball inside," Ramirez said, "but he's got a pretty short swing, but quick. He's got power. He's having a great year and got good contact. That changed, really, the whole course of the game."

Nelson Cruz hit two home runs and drove in four runs as the Mariners won the first game. Danny Valencia and Kyle Seager also homered as Seattle jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the second inning.

In the second game, Danny Espinosa's two-out double in the second off the right field wall scored Leonys Martin, who had singled, giving the Mariners a 1-0 advantage.

Merrifield, who also homered in the first game, homered in the bottom of the third. Merrifield deposited a 2-1 Ramirez pitch into the Royals' bullpen.

Kansas City was not through scoring in the third. Cain, who had three hits in the first game, and Hosmer, who snapped a 0-for-14, singled.

Cabrera, whom the Royals picked up at the trade deadline from the Chicago White Sox, homered with Cain and Hosmer along for the ride in the third. It was his first home run since joining the Royals and his 14th of the season.

Junis made his first big league start since June 29, a loss to the Detroit Tigers. He did pick up a victory in relief on July 24 at Detroit.

NOTES: Seattle RHP David Phelps left with elbow discomfort after facing one batter in the seventh. ... The Mariners obtained All-Star 1B Yonder Alonso from the Athletics for minor league OF Boog Powell. Alonso is scheduled to join the Mariners on Tuesday in Oakland. ... The Royals put C Salvador Perez on the 10-day disabled list with a right intercostal strain. They recalled C Cameron Gallagher from Triple-A Omaha, and he went 1-for-3 in the nightcap in his big league debut. ... The Mariners promoted RHP Cody Martin as the designated 26th man for the second game. ... Mariners C Mike Zunino went 0-for-11 and struck out seven times in the series, failing to get the ball out of the infield. ... LHP Ariel Miranda will start for the Mariners in the opener at Oakland on Tuesday, while the Athletics will start RHP Kendall Graveman. ... Royals RHP Ian Kennedy and St. Louis RHP Carlos Martinez are the probables for Monday in Kansas City.

Mariners overpower Royals in opener of doubleheader

(TSX / STATS) -- KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Danny Valencia, Kyle Seager and Nelson Cruz homered in the first two innings as the Seattle Mariners overpowered the Kansas City Royals 8-7 on Sunday afternoon in the opener of a doubleheader.

The initial three home runs came in the first 13 batters, putting the Mariners up 7-0.

Cruz also homered in the seventh inning and finished the game with 84 RBIs.

Danny Valencia, the second batter of the game, homered after Danny Duffy (7-7) walked Jean Seaura.

Three batters later and with two out in the first, Seager clubbed his 16th home run.

A passed ball on Drew Butera, who is filling in for the injured Salvador Perez, in the second inning led to four unearned runs. Butera's passed ball came on Robinson Cano striking out, which would have been the final out of the inning. Cano reached first and Segura scored on the passed ball.

Cruz then went deep making it 7-0. Cruz's blast in the seventh was an estimated 465 feet.

Duffy lasted 5 2/3 innings, charged with seven runs (four unearned) on seven hits, three of them home runs, and two walks, while striking out eight.

Mariners rookie left-hander Marco Gonzales, who was obtained in a trade last month with St. Louis, retired the first seven batters he faced before giving up a single to Alex Gordon. Two batters later Whit Merrifield homered, his 12th.

Gonzalez did not make it through the fifth. He walked Butera, gave up a single to Merrifield and a run-scoring double to Lorenzo Cain to start the inning and finish his outing.

James Pazos (3-3) replaced Gonzalez and got the victory. Merrifield scored on an Eric Hosmer ground out to Valencia and Melky Cabrera flied out to center fielder Guillermo Heredia to get Cain home.

Mike Moustakas hit a two-run homer, his 31st, in the eighth off Nick Vincent.

Edwin Diaz collected his 23rd save, working around a walk in the ninth.

Mariners right-hander David Phelps left after facing only batter in the seventh. Phelps motioned for the trainer to come out. It was later announced he had elbow discomfort.

NOTES: The Mariners obtained 1B Yonder Alonso, who has 22 home runs and was a 2017 All-Star selection, from the Athletics for minor league OF Boog Powell, who began his career in the Oakland farm system. Alonso is scheduled to join the Mariners on Tuesday in Oakland. ... The Royals put C Salvador Perez on the 10-day disabled list with a right intercostal strain and recalled C Cameron Gallagher from Triple-A Omaha, where he hit .294 in 68 games. ... The Mariners promoted RHP Cody Martin as the designated 26th man for the second game. The Royals' 26th man was RHP Jake Junis, who is scheduled to start the second game. ... The Mariners' Saturday rainout was their first in Kansas City since Aug. 19, 2004. ... Seattle is off Monday before opening a series Tuesday at Oakland. LHP Ariel Miranda will start for the Mariners, while the Athletics will start RHP Kendall Graveman. ... Royals RHP Ian Kennedy and St. Louis RHP Carlos Martinez are the probables Tuesday in Kansas City.

Mariners obtain All-Star 1B Alonso from Athletics

(TSX / STATS) -- The Seattle Mariners acquired All-Star first baseman Yonder Alonso from the Oakland Athletics on Sunday in exchange for minor league outfielder Boog Powell.

Alonso, 30, was hitting .266 with 22 home runs, 49 RBIs, a .369 on-base percentage, .527 slugging mark and a .896 OPS in 100 games with Oakland this season.

The 2017 American League All-Star has set career highs in home runs, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS. Alonso's previous career high for homers in a single season was nine in 2012 with the San Diego Padres.

"I can't thank the Oakland A's enough for the opportunity they gave me," Alonso told reporters after the announcement. "They believed in me and helped me mature and recharge my career."

Alonso said he was initially stunned when informed of the deal.

"Surprised but excited, going to a team that is one game out of the playoffs," Alonso said. "I get to play some meaningful baseball, which will be probably the first time in my career I'll be able to do that. I'm ecstatic."

In parts of eight major league seasons with Cincinnati (2010-11), San Diego (2012-15) and Oakland (2016-17), Alonso has combined to hit .269 with 61 home runs, 288 RBIs and a .339 on-base percentage in 762 games.

Powell, 24, hit .194 (7-for-36) with two RBIs in 23 games over three stints with Seattle this season as he made his major league debut. He spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Tacoma, batting .340 with six home runs and 33 RBIs in 58 games.

The Mariners also acquired right-handed pitcher Ryan Garton and catcher Mike Marjama from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for left-hander Anthony Misiewicz, infielder Luis Rengifo and a player to be named later.

Garton, 27, made his major league debut with Tampa Bay in 2016. In parts of two big-league seasons (2016-2017) he is 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA and one save in 44 relief appearances. For Triple-A Durham, he is 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA and four saves in 24 games, including one start.

Marjama, 28, spent the season with Durham, hitting .274 with nine home runs and 51 RBIs in 72 games.

Misiewicz, 20, went 8-5 with a 4.75 ERA in 23 starts combined between High-A Modesto and Double-A Arkansas this season.

Rengifo, 20, hit .250 with 11 homers and 44 RBIs in 102 games with Class A Clinton this season.

In addition, Seattle designated catcher Tuffy Gosewisch for assignment.

Gosewisch, 33, spent the majority of the season at Triple-A, but also appeared in 11 games with Seattle, hitting .071 (2-for-28).

Rain washes out Mariners-Royals tilt

(TSX / STATS) -- Saturday's game between the Seattle Mariners and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium was postponed by rain.

The game will be made up as part of a traditional doubleheader on Sunday afternoon, with the first contest beginning at the regularly scheduled time of 2:15 p.m. ET. The second game will start within 30 minutes of the completion of the first one.

The postponement was Seattle's first since being rained out in New York on April 30, 2014. The Mariners had played 572 consecutive scheduled games since that rainout, the longest active streak in the majors.

Seattle's initial Saturday starter, right-hander Felix Hernandez, was placed on the 10-day disabled list with right biceps tendinitis earlier in the day. The Mariners (56-55) will hand the ball in the first game to left-hander Marco Gonzales, who was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to make his debut.

Right-hander Erasmo Ramirez will pitch for Seattle in the nightcap.

It was not immediately known if the Royals (56-52) would maintain their rotation. Left-hander Danny Duffy (7-6, 3.42 ERA) was slated to get the start on Saturday.

The last traditional doubleheader played in Kauffman Stadium was August 22, 2010, when the Royals and Chicago White Sox split a twi-night twinbill.

Paxton pitches Mariners past Royals

(TSX / STATS) -- KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jarrod Dyson knew with James Paxton pitching that the Seattle Mariners had a good chance to win.

Dyson drove in the go-ahead run in a three-run seventh and Paxton picked up his seventh victory in as many starts as the Seattle Mariners topped the Kansas City Royals 5-2 on Friday night.

Guillermo Heredia doubled in the first run in the seventh to tie the score at 2. Dyson laced a broken-bat single to right, scoring Heredia. Dyson stole second and scored on Leonys Martin's two-out single.

"When Paxton pitches, you're just trying to tack on runs early," Dyson said. "You're trying to get to their starter early because you know Paxton's going to go out there and he's going to give it his all. He's going to be tough to hit."

The Royals took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Whit Merrifield, who doubled to lead off the inning, scored on a Paxton wild pitch.

"Great anticipation, great instincts," Royals manager Ned Yost said of Merrifield scoring. "He was ready for that situation. The ball didn't bound far, but he got a great jump on it.

"Paxton was commanding his pitches, his fastball was 94-to-97 (mph), good slider, he was tough. To take the lead at the point we felt pretty good."

But the Royals did not lead for long.

"I'm pretty upset to give it back in the seventh after the guys fought hard to give me one," Royals right-hander Jason Hamel said. "It's frustrating."

Hammel (5-9) gave the Royals a quality start but suffered the loss. He yielded three runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Paxton (12-3) has not lost since June 27 to the Philadelphia Phillies. He was pulled after 95 pitches and six innings, giving up two runs on four hits, one walk and two wild pitches, while striking out seven.

"I gave up some runs and they came right back and scored, answered, and did a really good job," Paxton said. "The bullpen did a fantastic job, also."

Danny Valencia provided the Mariners with an insurance run in the eighth when his second sacrifice fly of the game scored Jean Segura, who had tripled.

Edwin Diaz worked a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 22nd save. The Royals did not have a base runner the final three innings off three Seattle relievers.

The Mariners beat the Royals for the first time this year in five games.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez grimaced after swinging at a pitch in the sixth inning. He left with pain in his right side and was taken for a MRI.

"It's a different spot, so it's a little more concerning," Yost said. "We'll know tomorrow."

Hammel gave up a rare first-inning run to the Mariners.

With one out, Segura beat out a slow roller to third baseman Mike Moustakas for an infield single. He stopped at third on Robinson Cano's 500th career double, a liner into the right-field corner. Cano is tied for 61st place with Hall of Famer Goose Goslin and John Olerud on the all-time doubles list.

Valencia's sacrifice fly to right field scored Segura. It was only the third run Hammel has allowed in the first inning in his 22 starts.

Paxton, who went 6-0 in six July starts, did not allow a hit until Moustakas' fifth-inning one-out single, a sharp ground ball to right field.

Moustakas went to second on a Paxton wild pitch and third on Jorge Bonifacio's groundout to Cano.

Brandon Moss, who hit a pair of home runs in the Thursday victory, laced a first pitch to left to score Moustakas to tie the score at one.

Paxton struck out five in the first five innings, including the side in the third inning.

Ben Gamel led off the Mariners' sixth with a single but was erased when Segura lined out to shortstop Alcides Escobar, who doubled off Gamel.

"Dyson had another good game; great to see," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "Leonys chipped in. Robby got his 500th double. Good for him. It's been an unbelievable career he's had. Hopefully we'll get to see a few more of those doubles and homers."

NOTES: Mariners DH Nelson Cruz was scratched late with neck, shoulder and back spasms. Guillermo Heredia replaced him as the DH. ... The Mariners activated INF/OF Shawn O'Malley from the 60-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Omaha. ... No Zoom, Zoom. Royals C Salvador Perez threw out CF Jarrod Dyson trying to steal second to end the second inning. ... Royals LF Alex Gordon was given the night off. ... Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez and Royals LHP Danny Duffy are the Saturday probables.