BRENT STECKER

Lineups: AL-leading hitter Ben Gamel hitting 2nd for Mariners vs A’s

Jul 6, 2017, 3:15 PM | Updated: 3:15 pm

Ben Gamel has a narrow lead over Houston's Jose Altuve for the top batting average in the AL. (AP)...

Ben Gamel has a narrow lead over Houston's Jose Altuve for the top batting average in the AL. (AP)

(AP)

The Mariners will have the American League’s leading hitter taking swings out of the No. 2 spot in Thursday’s series opener against the Athletics at 7:10 on 710 ESPN Seattle.

Ben Gamel enters the game with a .335 average, one point above Houston’s Jose Altuve, after meeting the required 3.1 at-bats per his team’s games played. He’ll be in left field and looking to build on a 2 for 4 effort in Wednesday night’s loss to the Royals.

Also in the Mariners’ lineup is Danny Valencia hitting sixth, Mitch Haniger seventh, Jarrod Dyson in center field hitting eighth, and catcher Mike Zunino in the No. 9 spot.

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Paul Blackburn will start for Oakland on the mound. He was with the Mariners’ organization for the second half of last season, coming to Seattle from the Cubs in the Mike Montgomery-Dan Vogelbach trade, then was sent to the A’s for Valencia over the offseason.

Coverage begins on 710 ESPN Seattle at 6 with the pregame show. Here are the full lineups.

Mariners (41-45)

Jean Segura, SS
Ben Gamel, LF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Danny Valencia, 1B
Mitch Haniger, RF
Jarrod Dyson, CF
Mike Zunino, C

Sam Gaviglio, RHP

Athletics (37-48)

Matt Joyce, RF
Marcus Semien, SS
Yonder Alonso, 1B
Khris Davis, LF
Jed Lowrie, 2B
Ryon Healy, DH
Bruce Maxwell, C
Matt Chapman, 3B
Jaycob Brugman, CF

Paul Blackburn, RHP

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Lineups: AL-leading hitter Ben Gamel hitting 2nd for Mariners vs A’s