Bleday homers, Estes earns first win as A's beat Mariners 8-1
SEATTLE (AP) — Rookie starter Joey Estes struck out five in five solid innings after being called up earlier in the day for his first major league win, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 8-1 on Saturday night.
Abraham Toro and Brent Rooker hit run-scoring singles in the two-run third inning to put Oakland up 2-1. Max Schuemann added added a three-run double in the eighth and JJ Bleday had a two-run homer in the ninth as Oakland snapped a two-game losing streak. The A’s had lost five of six following a six-game winning streak.
Cal Raleigh hit his 10th home run, a solo shot in the second inning to put Seattle up 1-0. It was all Athletics after that.
Bryce Miller (3-3) struck out nine, allowing five hits, but started the costly third inning with one of his two walks, to Lawrence Butler. The speedy right fielder moved to second on Brett Harris’ single and scored on Toro’s single to right field. Rooker’s hit to shallow right scored Harris for the 2-1 lead.
The Mariners had beaten the A’s in 13 of their last 14 dating to the start of the 2023 season. They’ve lost three of their last four and four of six. Seattle had been 12-1 in Miller’s last 13 quality starts.
A’s starters had allowed 55 runs over the previous six games, including an 8-1 loss to the Mariners on Friday night, before Estes (1-0) was called up to replace fifth starter Joe Boyle (lower back injury). He gave up two hits and walked none on 61 pitches.
Relievers Mitch Spence, Austin Adams, Lucas Erceg and Michael Kelly combined to give up one hit over the final four innings. Seattle had just three hits and left just one runner on base.
RALEIGH’S BIG BAT
Raleigh is the first AL catcher to hit 10 or more homers in his team’s first 40 games since the Yankees' Jorge Posada in 2003. Three NL catchers have accomplished the feat over the same span.
ROSTER MOVE
The A’s optioned LHP Easton Lucas to Triple-A Las Vegas when they recalled Estes for the start.
UP NEXT
Athletics: LHP Alex Wood (1-2, 5.30) closes out the series. He is 1-0 with a 1.72 ERA in his last three starts.
Mariners: RHP Luis Castillo (3-5, 3.54) is first in the AL and fourth in the majors with 56 strikeouts.
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