Mariners bid to move into first place in AL West in finale vs. A's

The Seattle Mariners have been looking up in the standings at the Athletics for most of the season.

But now the Mariners have the opportunity to change their view.

Seattle aims at first place in the division and a sweep of the A's when the two rivals complete a three-game series on Wednesday afternoon at West Sacramento, Calif.

Seattle took the first two games by scores of 9-2 and 4-1 and soundly outplayed the Athletics on both nights.

"I want to come out here again and sweep this series," Mariners manager Dan Wilson said after Tuesday's victory. "I think that's been something we've looked forward to doing when we got here."

The Mariners slammed four homers in Monday's win and then received stellar starting pitching from right-hander Emerson Hancock (one hit over six scoreless innings) on Tuesday.

Victor Robles chipped in with a 3-for-3 outing in just his third game after missing seven weeks with a right pectoral injury.

The return of Robles comes at a time in which Seattle is waiting on 2025 American League MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh (right oblique strain) and infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan (left groin strain) to return from injuries.

"We're still missing two important bats in this lineup and this team is still competing," Robles said through an interpreter. "That gives you an idea of how good this team is. I can't wait for everybody to be healthy and see the potential of what this team can bring when we have all our best players."

The Mariners shut down the Athletics' top player in Nick Kurtz on Tuesday.

Kurtz, 23, went 0-for-4 and struck out three times as his impressive 48-game streak of reaching base came to an end. Kurtz ends up tied with Mark McGwire (1996) for the franchise's best single-season streak.

"Whenever you are on the lists with some of the all-time greats, it's really cool to look back on it," Kurtz said afterward. "Those are some of the best players to play the game."

Kurtz's last chance to extend it came in the eighth inning when he struck out against Mariners lefty Gabe Speier.

"One of the best streaks I've ever been a part of or witnessed," A's manager Mark Kotsay said. "You've heard me talk about his plate discipline and not chasing hits. Even in that last at-bat, I still felt confident he was going to continue this thing."

The Athletics had just four hits on Tuesday and their lone run came on Tyler Soderstrom's ninth-inning homer.

The A's are starting left-hander Jeffrey Springs (3-5, 4.11 ERA) in the finale.

Springs, 33, is 3-0 with a solid 2.20 ERA in 14 appearances (six starts) against the Mariners.

However, Springs isn't exactly on a roll as he is 0-5 with a 5.89 ERA over his past seven starts this season.

Last Friday, Springs lost to the San Diego Padres when he served up three hits - all on homers - and four runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Rob Refsnyder (3-for-8) and Julio Rodriguez (4-for-14) each have homered twice off Springs while Randy Arozarena (3-for-11) has taken him deep once.

Seattle counters with right-hander Logan Gilbert (2-4, 4.04), who is 0-1 over his last three starts despite not giving up a run in two of them.

Gilbert was shelled for seven runs in 6 2/3 loss in a loss to the Padres on May 16 between the two strong efforts. He took a no-decision against the Kansas City Royals last Friday when he gave up two hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Gilbert is 4-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 15 career starts against the A's. He received a no-decision on April 22 when he gave up three runs and six hits over four innings.

Shea Langeliers is just 3-for-23 against Gilbert but has two homers. Brent Rooker is 1-for-16 with 11 strikeouts.

--Field Level Media