OAKLAND — AJ Pollock homered to break up a combined no-hit bid with one out in the eighth inning and Jarred Kelenic added an RBI double as the Seattle Mariners rallied past the Oakland Athletics 2-1 on Tuesday night.
On a night both teams were held hitless through five innings and just 2,583 fans were on hand at the Coliseum. Oakland’s Mason Miller pitched seven no-hit innings in his third major league start. He was removed after 100 pitches.
Miller, a 24-year-old right-hander who made his big league debut on April 19, struck out six and walked four.
Richard Lovelady (0-1) took over in the eighth with a 1-0 lead but took his his first loss with the A’s.
Seattle’s Bryce Miller, also a 24-year-old right-hander retired his first 16 batters in his major league debut before Tony Kemp singled on a shoulder-high pitch in the sixth. After a wild pitch and a flyout, Esteury Ruiz hit an RBI double to put Oakland ahead.
Bryce Miller struck out 10 in six innings, allowing one run and two hits. His 10 strikeouts were the most in a Mariners debut.
Gabe Speier (1-0) struck out the only batter he faced for his first big league win. Paul Sewald struck out two in a perfect ninth to remain perfect in eight save chances.
Athletics starting pitchers have not gotten a win through 30 games, the longest streak to start a season in big league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
ATTENDANCE WOES
The A’s drew their smallest home crowd in exactly one year, since 2,488 for a game against Tampa Bay on May 2, 2022. On-and-off rain in the early innings likely contributed to the low number, along with the Golden State Warriors hosting a playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers in San Francisco.
I BELIEVE IN STEPHEN VOGT
Former Athletics All-Star catcher Stephen Vogt returned to Oakland for the first time as a member of the Mariners coaching staff and received an ovation from the small Coliseum crowd.
“It’s always fun to come back to the Coliseum,” he said. “It’s always fun to come back to Oakland and see familiar faces and people you’ve worked with over the last 10-plus years.”
Vogt retired after last season and became Seattle’s bullpen and quality control coach.
“I think just to stay in the game and stay on the field with the guys,” he said of his decision to go into coaching. “The biggest impact you can make in this game is being around everybody every day.”
LA STELLA CUT
Before the game, the Mariners designated former All-Star infielder Tommy La Stella for assignment.
La Stella, 34, was released by San Francisco on Jan. 5 with one season left in an $18.75 million, three-year contract. Seattle signed him two weeks later for the $720,000 major league minimum, which was offset against the $11.5 million he was owed by the Giants.
La Stella appeared in 12 games with the Mariners, hitting .190 (4 for 21) with two RBIs.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: OF Julio Rodríguez (back soreness) was a late scratch after initially being listed in the starting lineup. Rodríguez took some swings in the batting cage but missed his second straight game.
