Mariners rally to beat A’s 5-4, close out August with 21 wins

Aug 30, 2023, 3:48 PM | Updated: 8:42 pm

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners reacts to scoring two runs on a single during the seventh inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners adjust his sunglasses before the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners flips the ball to Josh Rojas #4 after making a play during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Dominic Canzone #8 of the Seattle Mariners catches a ball for an out during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Bryce Miller #50 of the Seattle Mariners throws a pitch during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Seattle Mariners bats during the first inning V at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Lawrence Butler #22 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates with v13#2 after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Esteury Ruiz #1 of the Oakland Athletics steals second base against J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners during the second inning at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Seattle Mariners bats during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Seattle Mariners shakes hands with first base coach Kristopher Negrón #45after hitting a single during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Esteury Ruiz #1 of the Oakland Athletics scores off of Ryan Noda #49 hits an RBI double during the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Teoscar Hernandez #35 of the Seattle Mariners runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Teoscar Hernandez #35 of the Seattle Mariners gestures while running the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Teoscar Hernandez #35 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Mike Ford #20 of the Seattle Mariners looks on after being hit by a pitch during the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners gestures after hitting a double during the third inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Mike Ford #20 of the Seattle Mariners bats during the second inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Teoscar Hernandez #35 of the Seattle Mariners looks at his broken bat during the sixth inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Teoscar Hernandez #35 of the Seattle Mariners breaks hit bat during the sixth inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Jose Caballero #76 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with teammates after scoring during the seventh inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Dominic Canzone #8 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with teammates after scoring during the seventh inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Esteury Ruiz #1 of the Oakland Athletics dives for home plate against Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Esteury Ruiz #1 of the Oakland Athletics is tagged out at home plate by Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP staff

SEATTLE (AP) — After the most successful month in franchise history, the Seattle Mariners might prefer if August just never ended and rolled right into October.

“There’s like 60 days in August isn’t there? I wish there was,” manager Scott Servais quipped. “What a month.”

What a month indeed. The Mariners closed out the winningest month in team history by beating the Oakland Athletics 5-4 on Wednesday.

Seattle Mariners 5, Oakland Athletics 4: Box score

J.P. Crawford dropped a two-run single into left field in the seventh inning to give Seattle the lead, and the Mariners rallied from a pair of deficits.

.@jp_crawford is him. simple as that. pic.twitter.com/jvoMuuzlo5

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 30, 2023

Seattle went 21-6 in the month, bettering the previous franchise record of 20 victories in a month. The Mariners have won 13 of their last 15 games and will head into September in the middle of an AL West title race with Houston and Texas.

Current MLB Standings: Division | Wild Card

The last time Seattle went into September with at least a share of first place was 2001, also the last time the Mariners won the AL West.

“Twenty-one wins in a month and there was a really special team here that won 116 games one year and they didn’t even do that,” Servais said, referencing Seattle’s 2001 team that had four months of 20 victories during that record-setting season.

Teoscar Hernández capped his hot month with a three-run homer in the third inning — his 23rd of the season — that erased an 3-0 deficit.

TIE-OSCAR pic.twitter.com/CTWEwtvdjh

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 30, 2023

But it was Crawford who came through after Seattle fell behind 4-3.

The Mariners’ rally in the seventh inning came off reliever Kirby Snead (1-2), who had not allowed an earned run in his previous 10 appearances. Dominic Canzone doubled, Mike Ford singled and Dylan Moore walked to load the bases.

Following a strikeout, Crawford hit a soft liner the opposite way to score a pair and give Seattle the lead. Crawford is 7 for 11 this season when hitting with the bases loaded.

“J.P. is going to put the ball in play and he’s not going to try to do too much in those spots,” Servais said. “He’s learned that through the years and I think it’s a great example for our younger players to look at.”

Justin Topa (4-4) got the victory despite giving up the lead in the seventh. Aledmys Díaz lined a ground-rule double down the left field line and Esteury Ruiz followed with his own double that barely eluded the dive of Eugenio Suárez at third base. Pinch-runner Nick Allen scored easily and Oakland had a 4-3 lead.

Oakland tried to add on but Ruiz was thrown out at home plate by Hernández attempting to score on Ryan Noda’s flyout to right field. It was Hernández’s 12th assist this season, most among AL outfielders.

Ruiz was initially ruled safe but the call was overturned on replay.

“I was surprised when he was called safe but I know I made a really, really good throw. I’m glad they overturned it,” Hernández said.

Matt Brash worked through the eighth, striking out pinch-hitter Tony Kemp to end the inning with Brent Rooker standing at third as the tying run. Andrés Muñoz pitched the ninth for his 11th save in 14 chances.

Oakland scored three times in the second inning off Bryce Miller, including Lawrence Butler’s two-run homer and Noda’s RBI single. Miller threw six innings, allowing seven hits and struck out five.

“For Butler, today was a good day. Saw him pull the ball the other way, saw him pull a homer. We’ve heard a lot about his ability to drive the baseball. It showed again today,” Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said.

Seattle’s three-run outburst in the third inning came with two outs and was the only damage against Zach Neal, who allowed three hits in five innings and struck out six.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: CF Julio Rodríguez missed his second straight game with a sore left foot. Rodríguez was a late scratch before Tuesday’s game after developing nerve issue in the foot. Servais said postgame he hopes Rodríguez will be back in the lineup sometime during the series in New York against the Mets … RHP George Kirby will slot back into the rotation sometime during Seattle’s upcoming series against the Mets. Kirby was the scheduled starter Tuesday but was scratched due to illness.

UP NEXT

Athletics: Following a day off, the A’s will open a series at home against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. LHP JP Sears (2-11, 4.80) will start the opener against LHP Patrick Sandoval (7-10, 3.95) for the Angels.

Mariners: After an off day, Seattle will open a 10-game road trip in New York against the Mets on Friday. Seattle has not set its rotation for the series.