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In another historic night for baseball, as Alex Rodriguez played his final game at Yankee Stadium (a guest appearance at third base, no less), the A's played their own, slightly less memorable, game, and also ended the night with a win. Stephen Vogt, Yonder Alonso and Khris Davis racked up two hits apiece, while Coco Crisp and Danny Valencia each notched one, but the story of the night belonged to Marcus Semien and his 4-for-4 night as the A's take the opener from the Mariners and start the weekend off on the right note.
The A's started the scoring right out of the gates tonight as Semien's first hit set the table for Vogt's RBI double, putting the A's ahead 1-0. Davis wasted no time; as the very next batter, he launched a home run to put the A's ahead 3-0.
Although Manaea didn't allow his first hit until the fifth inning (a solo home run, to boot), the defense managed to turn a double-play in each of the first three innings of the game, as three walks put all three runners on base. Manaea ended the fifth inning still ahead 3-1, but Seattle tied the game at three in the sixth, thanks to a single, a triple and a sacrifice fly.
You do have to give the A's credit, though; they picked up Manaea immediately. Semien, Vogt and Davis opened the inning with back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases. A fourth single by Alonso brought in two runs for the A's and a single by Valencia brought the score to 6-3; still no one out. The Mariners turned a double-play of their own to help get out of the inning, but the damage was more than done.
Liam Hendriks replaced Manaea and pitched a perfect seventh inning; striking out the side in the greatest shutdown inning possible. Ryan Dull pitched a nearly-perfect eighth inning and Ryan Madson closed the game--and the save and Manaea's win--in fine fashion; three up, three down.
This was a solid win for the A's, as they are coming off a big series win against the Orioles, and we look to continue the winning ways this weekend. We do it again tomorrow as Kendall Graveman takes the mound at 6:05. Enjoy your Friday night.
