Danny Valencia hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, lifting the Oakland Athletics over the Seattle Mariners 4-2 Friday night. Oakland took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when left fielder Sam Fuld scored from second base on an error charged to Seattle shortstop Ketel Marte, who mishandled a throw from first on an attempted pickoff. Valencia then hit his 17th home run of the season to give the A’s (67-96) a 4-2 lead. Seattle center fielder Brad Miller had three hits, including a solo homer in the fifth that pulled the Mariners (75-84) to within 2-1.Valencia went 3-for-4 with a double, the home run, two RBIs and two runs scored for the A’s. Bassitt yielded four runs in 4 1/3 innings of an 8-2 loss in Seattle on August. 26, falling to 0-2 with a 5.56 ERA in three games (two starts) versus the Mariners.Nuno received a no-decision after allowing three runs in five innings of Seattle’s 6-4 victory over Houston on Tuesday.
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Seattle’s Tom Wilhelmsen came on for his 14th save opportunity and ended up with his second blown save of the season. Billy Burns walked and Mark Canha was hit on the hand.
Iwakuma’s first run allowed was anything but earned.
Oakland can complete its first three-game sweep in Seattle since September 7-9, 2012. He followed that with a wild pitch that moved the runners up, setting the table for Houston’s Brett Lawrie to tie with a sacrifice fly to left. But he had just eight home runs in all the games played in between.
Like so numerous Mariners’ 86 losses this season, late-inning failure from the bullpen was the ultimate undoing.
Cano finished the season with a 16-game hitting streak, which he extended with a fourth-inning single Sunday. He finishes the season hitting.248/.330/.443 with 12 home runs and 42 RBI. It’s the longest current streak in baseball and the longest of Cano’s career.
Athletics: LHP Drew Pomeranz, who has not pitched since September 26 with an AC joint inflammation, had an MRI and team orthopedist Dr. Will Workman recommended a shoulder clavicle resection. Cruz said his groin was tight and he didn’t want to push it. McClendon said it was unlikely Cruz would play in the final game of the season Sunday.
The Oakland Athletics put the finishing touches on their worst season in 18 years when they visit the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. If he does elect for the procedure, recovery time will be about six week and it is expected he would be fully recovered for spring training, according to Melvin.
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Athletics: RHP Chris Bassitt (1-8, 3.60 ERA) will start the final game of the regular season for Oakland. Cano, whose. 331 average since the start of July is the AL’s third-best mark, is set to undergo sports hernia surgery October 13.
