A's rally falls one run short in record-setting loss to Mariners

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OAKLAND -- Desperate times call for desperate measures. With Brett Anderson and Sean Manaea camped on the disabled list, Bob Melvin went unconventional Saturday evening against the Seattle Mariners. 

Melvin turned to reliever Liam Hendriks to start the game before being forced to hit the shuffle button. The home team set an Oakland-era record for a nine-inning game, sending nine pitchers to the hill in an 8-7 loss to the Mariners as Oakland fell back to 2 1/2 games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West. 

Hendriks lasted all of 1 2/3 innings before running amok and allowing baserunners on first and second. Danny Coulombe lasted just one batter, giving up a two-run double to Ben Gamel. Emilio Pagan finished off the second inning before yielding to Daniel Mengden to start the third.

It was downhill from there. The Mariners pounded Mengden in the third, scoring three runs in the inning. The A’s fielders didn’t help matters, fumbling away multiple chances to help their pitcher out of the third. 

Seattle tuned Mengden up for another run in the fourth to make it a 6-1 and hit newcomer Cory Gearrin gave up another two runs in the fifth as the game spun out of control. 

Mark Canha got the A’s offense going in the fifth when he crushed a 94-mph fastball over the left field fence, driving in Ramon Laureano to make is an 8-3 Mariners lead. The home run was Canha’s 15th of the season and first since July 30.

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With the game all but decided, Khris Davis went yard in the bottom of the eighth. The blast was his 40th of the season, giving him three straight seasons with 40-plus home runs and a 100 or more RBI in an A’s uniform. 

Riding the energy of Davis’ homer, the A’s loaded the bases with one out in the eighth. Marcus Semien delivered a bases clearing double to the gap in left center, cutting the Mariners lead to just one at 8-7. 

Jed Lowrie walked to lead off the ninth. Franklin Barreto pinch-ran for the Lowrie, but the middle-of-the-order hitters all struck out, stranding the tying run at first. 

What’s Next

Oakland host the Seattle for a 1:05 pm Sunday matinee. Edwin Jackson is scheduled to face off against Felix Hernandez in fourth as the A’s look to even the series at two apiece.

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