Game #156: Winning Streak Ends as Gossett is Owned by the Mariners

Anybody watching or listening to this game knew from the beginning it was not going to go the Athletics’ way. It was so bad that Daniel Gossett was pulled in the 5^th inning and ultimately notched the loss.

So what happened? Well, in the second, Daniel Gossett walked Seager and allowed Yonder Alonso to single to center. Mike Zunino then roped his 24^th home run of the season over the fence in center field. Seattle 3, Oakland 0.

In the third inning with one out, Mitch Haniger homered (15)—also on a fly ball over the fence in center field. This was then followed in the fourth with a 385 foot homer from Yonder Alonso, #26 on the season. But wait, we get to the 5^th and, yet again, Mitch Haniger homers for the second time in the game (16 and his first MLB multi-homer game) for a second time on the night over the center field wall. Gossett then walked Robinson Cano and that was it. Bob Melvin replaced Gossett with Sam Moll. Mariners 7, Athletics 0—and all in only four and a half innings on six hits.

NOT a good start and not the kind of start that can yield win #8 in a row. Especially given the fact that the A’s have only had one hit on the night. And, it doesn’t help that Moss began the 6^th inning by walking Mike Zunino on four pitches. Motter then singled but this was the extent of the damage. Ben Gamel grounded into a double play to end the inning. Marcus Semien did retaliate by hitting his 8^th home run over the left centerfield wall.

And yet, it wasn’t enough and the A’s racked only a run which would become the final score of the night: Mariners 7, Athletics 1—Hernandez with the win, Gossett with the loss.

In the 7^th, Michael Brady replaced Sam Moll and had a strong inning. He struck out Mitch Haniger and pushed Robinson Cano to pop out to third and Nelson Cruz to right. This was a solid inning for Brady.

In the 7^th, Andrew Albers replaced Felix Hernandez and began with a strikeout of Jed Lowrie. Felix Hernandez had a solid outing, pitching 6 innings with 2 hits on 1 earned run with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks.

Brady continued into the 8^th and did an excellent job of retiring the side quickly. F-7, 6-3 and F9 finished up this excellent pitching endeavor. The Athletics, unfortunately, had little to retaliate with and went three up, three down.

In the 9^th, the Mariners did little. This was also the case for the A’s offense as they went quietly into this good Monday night, ending the 7-game losing streak and extending the distance between the A’s and the Mariners for kings of the cellar. How did they lose it? Jake Smolinski grounded into an out. Marcus Semien then walked. Renato Nunez, in a pinch-hitting role then roped a single which advanced Semien to third. With runners on first and third, Barretto stuck out swinging. Two outs and Mr. 41 home runs is up. with a count of 1-2, Davis ended the game with a short pop fly to center to end the game.

Probably the most exciting event of the game was the fan who caught two souvenir balls. She seemed surprised and yet confident—somewhat consistent for the players on the field as well.