Game Thread #31: Athletics at Mariners

Last night after scoring two runs off A’s starter Brett Anderson in the bottom of the third, the Seattle Mariners were unable to score again. However, the A’s lineup was no match for Mariner’s starter James Paxton and it looked as thought the A’s might surrender the series win to Seattle last night. Paxton went seven full scoreless innings and handed things over to the Mariner’s bullpen.

Suddenly everything seemed to reverse. The A’s tied the game with two runs in the eighth inning on a ground rule double by Matt Joyce and a two-run shot from the red-hot Jed Lowrie off of Mariners’ reliever Juan Nicasio. Mark Canha homered to give the A’s the lead off of another member of the Mariners’ bullpen, Edwin Diaz. Blake Treinen closed out the game for the A’s and the series was tied 1-1.

Tonight’s Lineups:

Now the A’s seem to be in a good position to take the series from Seattle with American League Pitcher of the Month for April Sean Manaea on the mound against Seattle’s Wade LeBlanc. Manaea has yet to give up more than two runs in each of his six outings this season. Can he do it again tonight? Let’s hope so!

If you will be following the game on Twitter tonight remember that Jon Shea will be taking over for Susan Slusser. Slusser will instead be on the broadcast answering your questions! Send those questions to @NBCSAthletics using the hashtag #AskSusan and maybe she will answer one of yours!

Enjoy the game and Let’s Go Oakland!!!