Sean Manaea strikes out 13 in 7 innings, leads A’s past Mariners 4-1

Jul 22, 2021, 11:05 PM

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 22: Sean Manaea #55 of the Oakland Athletics throws a pitch during the first inning of the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on July 22, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 22: Tom Murphy #2 of the Seattle Mariners shakes hands with Manny Acta #14 after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 22, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 22: Pete Woodworth #32, Chris Flexen #77, and Tom Murphy #2 of the Seattle Mariners meet at the mound during the sixth inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 22, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 22: Mitch Moreland #18 of the Oakland Athletics scores after Sean Murphy doubled to left field during the sixth inning of the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on July 22, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 22: JT Chargois #84 of the Seattle Mariners throws a pitch during the sixth inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 22, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 22: Mark Canha #20 of the Oakland Athletics dives for first base during the fifth inning of the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on July 22, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 22: Elvis Andrus #17 of the Oakland Athletics steals second base while Dylan Moore #25 of the Seattle Mariners bobbles the ball during the fifth inning of the game at T-Mobile Park on July 22, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 22: Chris Flexen #77 of the Seattle Mariners throws a pitch during the fourth inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 22, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 22: Sean Manaea #55 of the Oakland Athletics throws a pitch during the fouth inning of the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on July 22, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 22: CEO John Stanton of the Seattle Mariners presents Yusei Kikuchi #18 with his MLB 2021 All-Star jersey before the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 22, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 22: Mark Canha #20 of the Oakland Athletics gestures after hitting a double during the first inning of the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on July 22, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 22: Jed Lowrie #8 of the Oakland Athletics makes contact with the ball during the first inning of the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on July 22, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP staff

SEATTLE (AP) — Sean Manaea struck out a career-high 13 in seven strong innings, Ramón Laureano drove in a two runs and the Oakland Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 4-1 Thursday night in the opener of a 10-game road trip.

Athletics 4, Mariners 1: Box Score

Manaea was overpowering in winning for the first time since June 14, after having lost his previous four decisions. The left-hander’s dominance combined with just enough offense got Oakland’s important road trip off to a winning start.

Manaea mixed his fastball with a sweeping curveball and changeup to get 18 swings and misses from Seattle batters. Ten of the first 15 outs recorded by the A’s came on strikeouts, and eight of the nine batters in Seattle’s lineup struck out against the Manaea (7-6), who allowed just three walks.

Career-high 13 strikeouts.
𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡.

7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 13 K pic.twitter.com/rwIt66rxqg

— Oakland A's (@Athletics) July 23, 2021

Tom Murphy was the only Seattle batter not to strike out against Manaea. He grounded out, walked and hit a long solo home run on a 1-2 pitch in the seventh inning that pulled Seattle within 2-1.

💣 MURPH 💣 pic.twitter.com/YsbvCsGcm5

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 23, 2021

It was one of three hits allowed by Manaea, who threw 106 pitches and was lifted after the seventh inning.

Sergio Romo pitched the eighth and Lou Trivino tossed the ninth for his 16th save.

Laureano had a pair of RBI singles, the second coming in the eighth inning off Rafael Montero as the A’s scored twice. Matt Olson also had a sacrifice fly in the inning.

keep them coming… pic.twitter.com/cmvS7ukzE9

— Oakland A's (@Athletics) July 23, 2021

Laureano’s first RBI came in the fifth inning as the last of three two-out hits that scored Oakland’s first run. Laureano’s grounder off the leg of Seattle starter Chris Flexen allowed Elvis Andrus to score.

Mitch Moreland and Ryan Murphy had back-to-back doubles with one out in the sixth inning, ending Flexen’s night.

Flexen (9-4), who had won his last three starts, lost for the first time since June 2 when he was bested by the A’s. Flexen allowed two runs and failed to get through six innings for just the second time in 10 starts.

MORE MANAEA

Manaea had a 4.13 ERA over his previous five starts. He was the first A’s pitcher to have 13 or more strikeouts and allow one run or less since Todd Stottlemyre on June 16, 1995.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: OF Kyle Lewis will begin light hitting in the batting cage later this week as he continues his recovery from knee surgery. It will be the first time Lewis has done anything with the bat since undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus. Manager Scott Servais said Lewis has not progressed to running or jumping. … OF Jake Fraley no longer has COVID-19 symptoms but remains in isolation in California after testing positive last weekend. Servais said the earliest Fraley could rejoin the team is Monday, if he clears all testing.

UP NEXT

Athletics: RHP Frankie Montes (8-8, 4.33) has a 3.74 ERA and allowed just three homers over his past nine starts. Montes gave up 11 homers in his first 10 outings of the year.

Mariners: LHP Yusei Kikcuhi (6-5, 3.92) looks to get back on track after two straight poor outings. Kikuchi allowed seven runs and nine hits in a loss to the Angels in his last start and has allowed 12 earned runs in his last two combined.

Dipoto: M’s would ‘love to add’ at deadline, give players vote of confidence