A’s Move to 14 Games Over .500 By Sweeping Mariners
Jul 17, 2019, 10:08 PM
| Updated: 10:08 pm
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The Oakland Athletics entered their two-game series against the Seattle Mariners as the hottest team in baseball, winning 20 of their last 28 games. Oakland had a 6-7 record against Seattle going into the series but held a plus-15 run differential in those 13 games.
Tuesday: Athletics 9, Mariners 2
WP: Daniel Mengden (5-1, 4.21 ERA), LP: Marco Gonzales (10-8, 4.48)
Mengden led the way for Oakland in Game 1 of the series. He went seven innings, allowing just four hits and striking out three. The key for the starter was getting the ball in the strike zone, throwing 65 of 96 pitches in the zone while only allowing the four base runners.
Chapman exploded at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, home run, and five RBI.
Wednesday: Athletics 10, Mariners 2
WP: Homer Bailey (8-6, 4.69), LP: Tommy Milone (1-4, 3.95)
Bailey made his debut for the Athletics after being acquired on Sunday and impressed. The former Royal struck out six while allowing seven hits and two runs over six innings picking up his first win as an Athletic.
All ten runs for Oakland came via the home run ball. Jurickson Profar and Mark Canha hit two each while Chad Pinder and Ramon Laureano added their own long balls. Chapman exited the game before the third inning with a sore left ankle.
Oakland now sits at 55-41 as they head to Minnesota for a four-game series against the 58-36 Twins.