Typical M's-A's game ends with typical 3-2 score and M's prevailing

This was another AL West shootout. And by shootout, I mean 5 total runs scored, 12 total hits, and 18 K's. Unfortunately, 14 of those K's came courtesy of A's hitters, as Jason Vargas managed to shut them down through 6.2 innings of 3-hit 10-K ball. Funny, this was close to a prediction that a friend of mine made:

Alan

@cuppingmaster

So Vargas allowed 10 ER last start. I'm thinking 7IP of 3-hit ball today. #Athletics #Mariners

So, I was off by an out. Shoot me. Indeed, Vargas has allowed a tOPS+ of 64 against the A's, by far his best performance against any regular opponent.

He was that same tough customer against the A's today. The A's scoring all came in the 7th inning today, as Cespedes crushed a line drive HR into dead left field, cutting the A's deficit at the time to 2-1. After a two-out double by Seth Smith, Gomes would them single him in to tie the game. Go Petaluma!

The tie game would not last long, though. After Furbush walked Weeks (who then stole second a batter later) and then struck out Reddick, this set up a situation where Cespedes was the batter and Inge was on deck. Playing the numbers, Wedge decided to gamble on BFI not coming through and it paid off, as he struck out swinging to end the threat. I have to wonder if Melvin's "green light always" strategy came to bite him in the butt there. By stealing with the power threats at bat and on deck, Weeks effectively assured that Furbush wouldn't pitch to Cespedes if there was a better option. Of course, a single scores Weeks in that situation, but I like the chances of Cespedes getting a hold of one or hitting a double with two outs more than I do BFI smacking a single.

Thorn-in-A's-side Brendan Ryan was the one who then delivered the winning blow for the Mariners in the 8th, as he singled after a failed K-CS DP opportunity caused Casper Wells to get to 2nd after his single. That scored Wells and signaled game over for the A's. Tom Wilhelmsen came in for the save, setting the A's down 1-2-3 in the 9th.

The A's will attempt to take the rubber game of the series tomorrow. Tune in to see if this series breaks 10 runs total!