Reddick, Cespedes go deep to topple Mariners

OAKLAND -- Josh Reddick has a message for anyone who suggested he shave off his beard after going hitless in his first 10 at-bats:

"Forget it, it ain't going to happen."

Reddick backed his rhetoric with a home run, double and four RBIs Thursday, as the Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners, 8-2, to force a series split.

"People get too superstitious," Reddick said. "It's four games into the season. It's not like I'm going 0-fer. Besides, it's my face. I can do what I want with it."

He's not the only one who can stand behind his words. Yoenis Cespedes also hit a home run, his second of the season, and Jed Lowrie added two more doubles to his total in support of A.J. Griffin.

Griffin allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings to gain the victory. He walked two and struck out three.

"It was good to get back out there for that kind of competition and contribute to a victory," Griffin said. "When you get the lead, you want to throw strikes and get ahead of guys."

John Jaso and Nate Freiman each drove in a run for the A's, who are heading to Houston for a series beginning Friday with the newest member of the American League West.

Coco Crisp singled and doubled for the A's, who have 16 extra-base hits among their 27 total (59 percent) for the season.

Michael Morse hit his fourth home run in as many games and Michael Saunders drove in a run for the Mariners.

"Hopefully we can figure out a way to get that guy," Griffin said of Morse. "He's such a good, disciplined hitter. He gets to balls some guys can't reach."

Overall, A's manager Bob Melvin was happy with the way Griffin pitched.

"He was good when he needed to be," Melvin said. "He got big outs."

Griffin has won all three of his starts against Seattle and is undefeated (4-0, 2.14) in six starts against AL West competition.

As for Reddick, getting his first hit and RBI was a good sign.

"It's good to get the first one out of the way," he said. "I'm not going up there trying to do too much. It was a good hitting day for us. Their guy threw a lot of strikes and we knew we had to go up swinging the bat."

Brandon Maurer made his Major League debut, giving up six runs on eight hits in six innings.

"We have nothing going for us, no way to know what he liked to throw in certain counts," Reddick said. "We went up there to see what he had and then reacted to his pitches."

Crisp singled ahead of Reddick's home run in the first inning.

Reddick followed Lowrie's double in the sixth with another double. Cespedes followed with his home run. Reddick and Frieman each added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

A's first baseman Brandon Moss was replaced by Frieman so he could be with his wife for the delivery of their child.

Will Moss join the team in Houston?

"I hope not," Melvin said.

Cespedes has eight home runs and 18 RBIs in 23 career games against the Mariners, his most against any team.

Chris Young recorded the 199th double of his career in the fifth.