Rookie Bryce Miller pitched at least six scoreless innings for the third time in five starts as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Oakland Athletics 6-1 Wednesday night.
Teoscar Hernandez homered for the Mariners, who will try to sweep a four-game series against their American League West rivals Thursday. The A's have lost seven in a row.
Miller (3-1) made his fifth consecutive quality start since being called up May 2 from Double-A Arkansas. The right-hander gave up two hits -- an infield single by Aledmys Diaz in the third inning and a check-swing single to shallow left field by Ryan Noda in the sixth -- walked one and struck out six. Miller lowered his ERA to 1.15.
The A's used right-hander Austin Pruitt as an opener before turning over the ball to lefty Ken Waldichuk.
Waldichuk (1-4) got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second and struck out the side in order in the third but couldn't make it through the fourth.
Cal Raleigh led off the bottom of the fourth by lining a single to center. With one out, Jose Caballero walked and AJ Pollock singled to center, loading the bases. No. 9 hitter Sam Haggerty, playing first base for the ailing Ty France who was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning Tuesday, lined a two-run double into the left field corner, breaking a scoreless tie.
J.P. Crawford and Julio Rodriguez both added run-scoring singles before Raleigh drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs to make it 5-0. Lucas Erceg replaced Waldichuk and got Hernandez to hit a soft liner to shortstop Diaz to end the inning.
Waldichuk gave up five runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings, with three walks and seven strikeouts.
The A's scored in the seventh off reliever Matt Brash. JJ Bleday led off by grounding a single to right off the glove of second baseman Kolten Wong. With one out, Jace Peterson lined a single to right and Diaz grounded an RBI double to left to avoid a shutout.
Hernandez led off the bottom of the inning by going deep to center off Sam Long. It was Hernandez's ninth homer of the season.
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