Martinez Tribune The website of the Martinez Tribune.
BY RICK PORCARO
The A’s slowed the Mariners push for their first postseason appearance since 2001 with a 5-3 win at the Coliseum Sunday afternoon, taking the rubber match of the three game weekend series against a Seattle team that had beaten them ten straight times at the Coliseum prior to yesterday.
JP Sears (5-0, 1.93) was impressive in his five innings pitched, only allowing a third inning solo home run to Mitch Haniger. Acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline for Frankie Montas, the 26-year old lefty won his fifth consecutive game to start his career in his first appearance against Seattle.
A’s rookie JP Sears lets a pitch fly during Oakland’s 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners Sunday afternoon. Acquired from the Yankees in the Frankie Montas trade, Sears improved his career record to 5-0.
Sears was supported by fellow rookie Shea Langeliers, Oakland’s No. 1 prospect who just made his Major League debut on Wednesday after being acquired in the Matt Olson trade before the season started. Also playing in just his fifth career game, the 24-year old Langeliers had three hits and an RBI, including a double and a triple.
“I’m just trying to keep it simple,” Langeliers said after the game. “The calmer you can keep your mind just puts you in a better position to succeed at the plate. I’m just trying to start my load early and get myself a chance to recognize and put a good swing on a pitch.”
After Sears departure, Oakland relied on six relievers to close the game, with Austin Pruitt recording the last two outs to record his first career save. The Mariners made it close in the seventh on the strength of a pinch-hit RBI double by Cal Raliegh before presumptive AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodríguez drove him in with a line drive single to left, but Zach Jackson struck out Ty France to end the threat.
“They’re getting great experience now,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “This isn’t about development. We’re here to win games, and they showed that today. They grinded this one out, the whole team. We’ve got 15 of those rookies and yet today they played like they’ve been here a little bit. They showed that this series, a great series against a playoff contending team and they stepped up the game and played it at the highest level.”
Oakland hung the loss on Seattle’s marquee pitching acquisition Luis Castillo (5-5, 2.93), his first in a Mariners uniform. Castillo was far from his best, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out five in his five innings pitched.
Shea Langeliers belts an eighth inning RBI triple during the A’s 5-3 win over Seattle Sunday afternoon.
Sears, who had a single start with Langeliers behind the plate for the A’s minor league team in Las Vegas before both were promoted to the Majors, said the catcher “is one of the most poised young catchers I’ve ever seen. He gives me confidence. He can run great and throw great. He can really hit. Just an overall great player.”
“It’s great to see the kid having fun,” Kotsay said of Langeliers. “For a young catcher who’s stepping into this situation, he’s handled it pretty darn well. He’s got a great attitude. He’s got great passion for the game. Today, he had a great game and contributed to this team’s win.”
The Miami Marlins come to Oakland next for the start of a three game series tomorrow. Adam Oller (2-5, 6.63) gets the ball for the A’s against Pablo Lopez (7-8, 3.83) in Monday night’s opener.
GAME NOTES:
Oakland has used 27 rookies this season, six more than the previous franchise record of 21 set in the 2008 season.
Langeliers triple was the Athletics first in 82 games, the longest streak by a team without one in MLB History.
Zach Jackson earned his American League leading 25th hold.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay was ejected in the seventh inning by first base umpire Bill Miller for arguing a check swing call.
The Mariners entered the game with only 44 errors, the lowest total in the Majors.
