Martin's homer in the 10th caps comeback

Martin's homer in the 10th caps comeback

August 9th, 2017

OAKLAND -- smacked a two-out, go-ahead home run off A's reliever in the 10th inning at the Coliseum on Tuesday night, sending the Mariners to a 7-6 victory that pulled them into a three-way tie with Kansas City and Tampa Bay for the second American League Wild Card spot.
Martin's homer, his second of the year, capped a gritty comeback effort by the Mariners, who trailed, 5-1, after three innings. Seattle went on to score in five of its final seven frames, with help from a spotty Oakland defense.
"It was a good swing, I put a good swing on it," Martin said. "I was seeing the ball really good tonight."
Mariners manager Scott Servais added, "I couldn't be any happier for Leonys Martin. The last time we were in Oakland, we had to designate him to send him down. Happy for him, he's busted his [bottom] down there the whole time in Triple-A. He's helped us out a ton since he's been back."
launched a three-run homer in the first inning -- his 30th of the season -- and notched an RBI triple in the third to finish with four RBIs. also homered for the A's, a solo shot for his 21st of the year.

Seattle starter was responsible for all six runs, allowing five hits with two walks and six strikeouts across five innings A's right-hander went 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits, including Ben Gamel's two-run double in the sixth.

The Mariners plated one run in each of the next two innings to tie the game, leading them to the 10th. Right-hander locked down his 24th save by working around two baserunners.
"Eddie bent a little bit but he didn't break," Servais said. "I think the experience he's gaining and the confidence he has, we needed it tonight and we needed him to shut it down and he got it done for us."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Mariners take advantage: The A's committed the first of their three errors on the night in the third, a throwing error by shortstop that helped Seattle score its first run. The Mariners took advantage of yet another error in the seventh, when right fielder Matt Joyce misplayed a single off the bat of , who made it to second base. A check-swing infield single by -- his first hit with Seattle -- put runners at the corners for , who singled home the unearned run.

Another costly mistake: Gamel opened the eighth inning with a ground ball that appeared to be a sure out, but rookie third baseman made an errant throw to first base, allowing Gamel to reach second on the play. 's ensuing grounder sent him to third, setting up pinch-hitter Danny Valencia's shallow sacrifice fly to center field that sent the tying run home.
"When you play close games like that and you make three errors, typically that's certainly not going to help you," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "We've got a play a little cleaner. We've been better at it, but numbers show you don't win many games when you make three errors."

QUOTABLE
"You've got to go for it. We've got to be aggressive, all of our guys. When you get up there and you have a chance to make a play, go for it. If they respond and they make a play and throw you out, so be it. But we've got to stay aggressive. That's what we have to do with where we're at in the season, and that's how we've played for the majority of the year." -- Servais on third-base coach Manny Acta sending Gamel on Valencia's shallow fly ball
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Davis is the first A's player with back-to-back 30-homer seasons since (2000-02) and Eric Chavez (2001-02).
WHAT'S NEXT
Mariners: Right-hander (5-7, 5.35 ERA) will start the finale of the two-game series at 12:35 p.m. PT Wednesday in Oakland. Since rejoining the rotation, Gallardo is 1-0 with a 4.02 ERA in three starts.
A's: Oakland will close out this two-game series against the Mariners with right-hander on the mound in Wednesday's 12:35 p.m. PT finale. Cotton is 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA in two career starts against Seattle.
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