Mariners' Bryan Woo strives to maintain dominance over A's

Bryan Woo has dominated the Athletics throughout his four-year career but he may have raised his level to new heights last Sunday.

Six days after tossing eight scoreless innings of one-hit ball, Woo attempts to frustrate the Athletics hitters again on Saturday night when Seattle faces the A's in the middle contest of the three-game series at West Sacramento, Calif.

Woo, 26, struck out nine and walked two in Sunday's 2-0 victory to improve to 8-1 in 11 career starts against the Athletics. He has a 1.95 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with 67 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings against the A's.

The outing marked Woo's longest of the season. He walked Donovan Walton with one out in the eighth inning before Seattle manager Dan Wilson stuck with him and he retired the next two batters.

"I really appreciated it," Woo said. "I've had opportunities in the past of being able to go deeper into games and just haven't gotten the job done."

The Mariners (69-79) could use another strong outing from Woo (11-9, 4.03 ERA) as they try to stay afloat in the American League wild-card race.

Seattle sustained a painful 6-5, 10-inning loss in Friday's opener of the set when Walton hit a walk-off, two-run homer. The A's are 4-1 against the Mariners this month to deliver repeated huge blows to Seattle's playoff hopes.

The Mariners trail the third-place Cleveland Guardians by six games for the final American League wild-card spot. Seattle is also six games behind the first-place Houston Astros and three games in back of the Texas Rangers in the AL West.

The Mariners took a 5-4 lead in the top of the 10th on Julio Rodriguez's ground single and later had runners on the corners. But they were unable to add more due to A's center fielder Denzel Clarke making a diving catch on Lazaro Montes' liner into the right-center gap.

"We were talking about Denzel's worth and today he leaves a clear proof of that," Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. "There aren't many who make that play. As big as Donovan's decisive (homer), yes, if that ball falls the difference in favor of the Mariners is bigger, instead it was just one run."

Walton then delivered his leadoff two-run shot on the third pitch from Eduard Bazardo in the bottom of the frame.

"It was a back-and-forth game, the guys kept coming back," Wilson said after the loss. "... Julio's two-out knock to give us the lead in the 10th, you really felt like things were going to go our way, but they didn't."

Woo has experienced an up-and-down season but is finishing strong. He is 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA over his last six outings.

Lawrence Butler (2-for-24) and Darell Hernaiz (2-for-7) each have homered off Woo.

Butler had three hits, including a two-run homer, for the Athletics (60-88) on Friday. Walton added three in a 14-hit attack.

The Athletics have won seven of their last nine games.

Walton said it's no surprise that the A's are playing well.

"I think just the chemistry of the guys, the communication pregame, the communication during the game," said Walton, "just talking about the pitchers and talking about different approaches.

"We've been able to back each other up so it's been fun."

Athletics left-hander Gage Jump (6-10, 5.12), who opposed Woo on Sunday, will reprise the role on Saturday. He absorbed the loss, giving up two runs and six hits over four innings. Jump struck out seven and walked none.

Jump has dropped three of his past four starts, giving up five and seven runs in the other two setbacks.

Jump, 23, made his big league debut against Seattle on May 26. He gave up four runs and nine hits over five innings and took the loss in a 4-1 game.