Skidding Mariners strive to 'figure it out' vs. Athletics

It would appear the Seattle Mariners are going to go out quietly instead of with a bang.

The defending American League West champions returned home Thursday with 22 games left in their season and the easiest remaining schedule in the majors, with only two contests against teams with winning records.

After Saturday's 6-2 loss, they've dropped three in a row to the lowly Athletics and find themselves seven games behind division-leading Houston and six back in the AL's wild-card race, with five teams between them and the final playoff berth.

Seattle (66-77) will try to avoid being swept by the visiting A's when the series concludes Sunday afternoon.

"We've just got to figure it out, pull our heads out of you-know-where," said Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby, who took the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings.

"Losing is never fun, especially (with) the talent in this room. ... Just keep attacking the day, day by day, and have each other's back and just going out there and just competing. We just gotta compete till the end, and that's our focus."

The Mariners seem to have lost focus against Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who entered Saturday's game having dropped 13 straight decisions.

Springs pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing only a pair of hits by Cal Raleigh. Springs improved to 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA in 16 career appearances against Seattle, including eight starts. He avenged his lone loss to them May 27 in West Sacramento, Calif., when he allowed five runs (two earned) on six hits over five innings in a 9-1 blowout.

"Couldn't be more proud of Jeff tonight. It's been a trying season for him in all facets, whether it's health or just performance, and he's been grinding really hard. He's a guy with a lot of pride, and for him to go out tonight and give us seven scoreless innings ... what a great night for him and the team," A's manager Mark Kotsay said. "I mean, he likes pitching here, that's for sure. He's got a lot of confidence in this ballpark, against this team and against this lineup. Thought his changeup was excellent tonight. I think that was the key, and he was able to just command the baseball."

Max Muncy homered for the second straight night and Lawrence Butler added a two-run shot for the A's (57-86), who have won four in a row.

"Great at-bats against Kirby ... this guy's elite, this whole pitching staff for Seattle has had us pretty well at bay for a long time and to come here this weekend and to swing the bats the way these guys have, says a lot about the group and the confidence that they're building together," Kotsay said.

In Sunday's series finale, the A's are scheduled to send rookie left-hander Gage Jump (6-9, 5.15 ERA) to the mound against Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo (10-9, 4.25).

Jump is coming off an 8-1 loss Monday at Texas in which he allowed seven runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings. He made his MLB debut against the Mariners on May 26 in West Sacramento, Calif., suffering a 4-1 loss. Jump gave up four runs on nine hits over five innings, with one walk and five strikeouts.

Woo won 9-6 Monday at Boston, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits over six innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts. The native of Oakland, Calif., is 7-1 with a 2.22 ERA in 10 career starts against the Athletics.