SEATTLE — Franklin Barreto hit his first home run of the season, Robbie Grossman added a pinch-hit, two-run double in the ninth inning, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 5-2 on Friday night.
The A’s won for the sixth time in seven games, thanks to a strong start by Brett Anderson and some key hits in the late innings.
Oakland took advantage of two errors by Seattle right fielder Domingo Santana on one play in the seventh inning to take the lead and cost Mariners lefty Yusei Kikuchi a chance at a victory in his best start since early May. Grossman provided insurance in the ninth lining a two-out shot off the wall against reliever Dan Altavilla.
Anderson (9-5) pitched into the seventh inning for the fifth time in six starts. He allowed two earned runs or less for the third time in his past four outings. His only outlier of the past month was a start against Tampa Bay when he allowed seven runs in three innings. Anderson struck out four and walked none.
Kikuchi (4-6) pitched seven innings for just the third time this season and first since May 8 against the Yankees. He struck out five and allowed four hits.
Barreto got to Kikuchi for a solo home run in the third inning, but it was the only mistake made by the Japanese rookie until the seventh inning. Matt Olson led off the inning with a ground-rule double and Khris Davis singled to right field. Santana failed to come up with the ball cleanly and after briefly stopping at third, Olson scored. Santana’s throw to the plate skipped past catcher Tom Murphy and Davis advanced to second. Two batters later, Davis scored on Ramon Laureano’s sacrifice fly to take the lead.
Murphy hit his ninth homer of the season for Seattle leading off the fifth. But the Mariners had just one hit after Murphy’s homer and newly named All-Star Liam Hendriks pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
All-star addition
Hendriks was added to the American League All-Star team on Friday as a replacement for Charlie Morton. Hendriks started a pair of games for the A’s, but has become a major key to Oakland’s bullpen. Hendriks has a 0.96 ERA as a reliever.
It’s a stunning turnaround for the 30-year-old who was designated for assignment by the A’s in June 2018, and after a stint in the minors became one of Oakland’s most important arms during its run to the playoffs last season.
“Where he’s been, where he is now, it’s pretty incredible,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said.
Roster moves
Oakland recalled RHP Paul Blackburn from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned RHP Tanner Anderson. Blackburn was an All-Star for Las Vegas, but gave up five runs over three innings in his only appearance with the A’s this season.
Seattle added RHP Matt Wisler to its roster following a trade with San Diego. The Mariners designated for assignment Mike Wright to clear a roster spot for Wisler.
