Raleigh, Torrens hit back-to-back HRs, Kikuchi Ks 12 as Mariners top A’s

Jul 23, 2021, 11:01 PM

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 23: Paul Sewald #37 of the Seattle Mariners checks the first base runner in the seventh inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 23: Dylan Moore #25 of the Seattle Mariners scores on a wild pitch during the seventh inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 23: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after striking out the batter to end the sixth inning during the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 23: The throw to home gets past Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners as Jacob Wilson #11 of the Oakland Athletics slides in for a run during the fifth inning of the game at T-Mobile Park on July 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 23: Matt Olson #28 of the Oakland Athletics his a home run to right center field during the fourth inning of the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on July 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 23: Luis Torrens #22 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during the second inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 23: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with Shed Long Jr. #4 after hitting his first major league home run to right center field during the second inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 23: Luis Torrens #22 of the Seattle Mariners points after hitting a home run to right field during the second inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 23: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners hits his first major league home run to right center field during the second inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 23: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners throws a pitch during the first inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 23: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners flips his bat after he hits his first major league home run to right center field during the second inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 23: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners is congratulated by teammates in the sixth inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on July 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — Cal Raleigh and Luis Torrens hit back-to-back homers, Dylan Moore scored the go-ahead run on consecutive wild pitches and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Friday night.

Mariners 4, A’s 3: Box Score

Seattle’s Yusei Kikuchi struck out a career-high 12 and Oakland’s Frankie Montas fanned 10. Neither starter figured in the decision in a game that included punches thrown in the stands during a fight that attracted a lot of views on social media.

🔥 Career-high 1️⃣2️⃣ strikeouts 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eZaHqCjVj1

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 24, 2021

Moore manufactured the tiebreaking run. Pinch-hitting in the seventh, he hustled out an infield single with two outs, stole his 15th bases and scored on a pair of wild pitches by reliever Jake Diekman (2-2).

That's one way to do it. pic.twitter.com/hUWVwfKgft

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 24, 2021

Seattle snapped Oakland’s three-game winning streak and is a major league-best 21-8 in one-run games.

Raleigh’s two-run shot to right field in the second inning came with Ty France aboard following Montas’ only walk. It was the first homer of the promising rookie catcher’s career.

113 mph, 444 ft 🤯

Cal's first homer was LAUNCHED. pic.twitter.com/cCmzlMOwLO

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 24, 2021

Torrens, another career catcher playing first base, followed with his 12th of the season.

Luis is on 🔥! pic.twitter.com/y8qxyfv9fs

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 24, 2021

Matt Chapman homered in the A’s third. Matt Olson hit his 26th homer in the fourth, then Mark Canha doubled home Jacob Wilson in the fifth to make it 3-all. Wilson scored from first when Raleigh bobbled J.P. Crawford’s perfect one-hopper on the relay from left field, which arrived about 15 feet in front of the runner.

The bobble cost Kikuchi the win. He had allowed the A’s just one run over 18 innings in three starts the last two seasons coming into the matchup.

Paul Sewald (6-2) struck out Elvis Andrus with the bases loaded in the seventh and fanned two more in the eighth. Kendall Graveman pitched the ninth for his 10th save.

MONTERO MOVING ON

The Mariners designated reliever Rafael Montero for assignment, ending his short tenure with the team. Seattle acquired Montero from Texas last December in a trade, but he never found a groove. He was 5-3 with seven saves and a 7.27 ERA.

“I have to say without a doubt in all my years in the big leagues, he’s a tremendous person, and the most unlucky pitcher I’ve ever been around when you look at the numbers and how well they worked out,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “But I’ve often said this is a do-good league. You do good, you stay, and it’s about results.”

Mariners DFA Montero, reinstate Sadler from IL

The Mariners activated RHP Casey Sadler (right shoulder impingement) from the 60-day injured list. The reliever was 0-1 with a 1.64 ERA in 11 appearances before going to the list May 2.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: LF Chad Pinder (strained right hamstring) has resumed all baseball activities, but manager Bob Melvin’s not ready to start talking timetables for return. Pinder’s been on the 10-day IL since July 8. “The running portion of it is most difficult for him and the one we have to be most careful of,” Melvin said. “It still comes along probably slower than anything else and based on the fact that he’s had hamstring injuries before to both sides, we have to be pretty careful with him.”