Athletics vs Mariners final score: Oakland wins 3-2 in extra innings

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Oakland Athletics were given the opportunity to get some payback against Seattle Mariners’ closer Fernando Rodney on Saturday night. They were able to take advantage of that chance, mostly by capitalizing on Rodney’s command struggles, and pulled out a key 3-2 victory in extra innings against the Mariners on Saturday night.

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This game was billed as a pitcher’s duel between A’s starter Sonny Gray and Mariners’ starter Felix Hernandez. It did not disappoint, with both starters pitching deep into the game. Gray went eight innings, surrendered just two runs and struck out seven. Hernandez went seven innings, surrendered two runs, and struck out eight.

Mistakes from either pitcher were few and far between, with Gray’s biggest mistake coming against Robinson Cano in the seventh inning. This pitch cost the A’s the lead and made the score 2-2.

robinson-cano-home-run
robinson-cano-home-run /

The score remained 2-2 and went into extra innings. In the top of the 10th the Mariners inserted Rodney into the game, and that is where things went wrong. Rodney worked one inning, issued four ugly walks, and walked in the winning run. He threw 32 pitches: 22 of them were balls.

Let’s just say that no imaginary bows were fired by Rodney on this night.

With this win, the Athletics reclaim the top wild card spot in the American League. They will play the rubber match of this key series against the Mariners on Sunday at Safeco Field.

Stay tuned to FanSided for all of the latest news, rumors, and analysis for Major League Baseball as the season races towards the postseason and the hot stove this off-season.