SEATTLE (AP) — Pinch-hitter Justin Upton homered to tie it in the eighth inning and Abraham Toro singled home the winning run in the ninth to lift the Seattle Mariners over the Oakland Athletics 2-1 Saturday.
The Mariners loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth when Lou Trivino (1-6) walked Eugenio Suarez, Carlos Santana singled and Cal Raleigh reached on shortstop Nick Allen's error.
Toro then singled home pinch-runner Marcus Wilson for the victory.
Diego Castillo (6-1) got the win.
Upton sent the first pitch he saw from A’s reliever AJ Puk into Edgar’s Cantina in left field to tie it at 1. It was his first homer of the season and the 325th of his career.
The A’s scored in the first off George Kirby when Tony Kemp led off with a walk, Ramon Laureano singled and Sean Murphy had a sacrifice fly.
Kirby and A's starter Paul Blackburn both excelled.
Kirby, coming off a tough start on Monday where he allowed four homers against the Baltimore Orioles, retired 13 consecutive batters from the second inning to the sixth, six by strikeout.
The Mariners rookie gave up three hits in seven innings, fanning nine.
Blackburn was dominant as well, retiring 14 straight hitters at one point in the game. He blanked the Mariners on four hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out five.
KOTSAY TOSSED
A’s manager Mark Kotsay was ejected in the bottom of the sixth inning by home plate umpire Chris Segal after complaining about a call on Seattle's Julio Rodriguez.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: INF Jed Lowrie (shoulder) had an MRI earlier this week that showed some fluid buildup, according to Kotsay. Lowrie had a cortisone injection, but still has no timeline for a return.
UP NEXT
Mariners: Seattle will start LHP Robbie Ray (6-6, 3.78) on Sunday in the series finale against Oakland. Ray has been dominant of late, with two earned runs allowed over his last four starts with 11 hits, seven walks, and 28 strikeouts.
Athletics: Frankie Montas (3-8, 3.20) is Sunday starter. He has allowed just six hits and two earned runs over his past two starts, which came on June 23 against the Mariners and June 28 against the Yankees.
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Shane Lantz, The Associated Press
