Coghlan, A's outlast Seattle in wild hit parade

March 24th, 2016

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Right fielder Jake Smolinski cracked a three-run homer and third baseman Chris Coghlan added a two-run triple among his three hits as the A's outlasted the Mariners, 13-12, in a Cactus League slugfest Wednesday night at Peoria Stadium.
Utility infielder Luis Sardinas ripped a fifth-inning grand slam and catcher Chris Iannetta racked up a double and four RBIs in a 3-for-3 day for Seattle, while right fielder Seth Smith had a triple and two RBIs in a two-hit game that put his spring average at .556 (15-for-27).

Neither starting pitcher fared well in the faceoff between American League West foes. Oakland right-hander Jesse Hahn lasted just 1 2/3 innings as he surrendered seven runs on eight hits with two walks on 68 pitches, with his spring ERA jumping to 10.87.
"I'm just going to take the positives out of it," Hahn said. "I was throwing strikes, whatever I wanted to do with my fastball I was doing it. I just got hit. I just got beat out there."
Mariners righty Nathan Karns was knocked out after 2 1/3 frames as he gave up nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits with two walks. Karns, competing with James Paxton for Seattle's fifth rotation berth, threw 60 pitches as his ERA rose to 6.75 in five starts.
"I've got to give them some credit," Karns said. "I didn't do a good job of working ahead, and they did a good job putting the ball in play. I haven't really found my rhythm yet and that's kind of frustrating, but I work a lot with [pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre] and it's going to come. It's going to catch. Until then, I just have to keep working."
Smolinski ended Karns' outing with his three-run blast to left-center in the third on a changeup that was up in the zone, though the Mariners regained the lead temporarily when Sardinas cleared the bases with his slam off lefty Eric Surkamp.

Vidal Nuno pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings in relief of Karns. Joaquin Benoit, making his first appearance in nine days due to a sore back, gave up back-to-back singles before setting down the next three A's - including two on strikeouts - in a scoreless fifth.
But veteran right-hander Joel Peralta gave the lead back to the A's by allowing four runs in the sixth while recording just one out on his 40th birthday, with Billy Butler delivering an RBI double -- his second of the day -- and Oakland scoring twice on bases-loaded walks later in the frame.
A's up next: Lefty Felix Doubront, battling for a spot in either the rotation or bullpen, will be back in Cactus League action with a start against the Rangers on Thursday at Hohokam Stadium. Former Athletic A.J. Griffin is scheduled to start for Texas in the 7:10 p.m. PT matchup.
Mariners up next:Taijuan Walker makes his second-to-last Cactus League start on Thursday in a 1:10 p.m. PT game against the Rockies at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. The young right-hander is 0-2 with a 4.73 ERA in four outings as he gears up for his second full season in Seattle's rotation. Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz are expected to play after sitting out Wednesday's game.