Comeback win one of few this season for Seattle

OAKLAND -- Tuesday night's 7-4 victory against the A's was only the Mariners' third win of the season when trailing after seven innings.

Seattle scored five runs in the eighth inning off an A's bullpen that owns the second best ERA in the American League at 2.96, has allowed the fewest walks (107) and is tied for the lowest opponents' slugging percentage at .346.

The Mariners are now 3-50 on the season when trailing after seven, with their second win of the sort coming last week in a 3-1 win against the Rangers.

"It was a great comeback," said Brad Miller, who drove in one of the Mariners' runs in the eighth. "They obviously have one of the best bullpens going. We strung eight quality at-bats in a row. That's huge, and I think it tells you something about this team and where we are right now and the direction we're headed."

Seven Mariners reached base before an out was recorded in the eighth to come back from a four-run deficit after starter Joe Saunders allowed four runs in the first inning.

"You play until the end, until that last out is made," acting manager Robby Thompson said. "And that's what they did yesterday, played the whole game out. Sometimes it happens the way it did last night, and sometimes you fall a little short. All you can do is play a full game until that last out is made."