Davis hits 30th home run but A’s lose 8-4 to Mariners
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Athletics rookie Zach Neal had a tough time finishing the fourth inning after an apparent double play was overturned by replay.
Neal struggled even more to keep his pitches down, something he had done effectively in his previous start.
That was key on a day when Oakland hit three home runs, including Khris Davis’ 30th of the season.
Kyle Seager doubled twice and drove in four runs and the Seattle Mariners won for the eighth time in nine games, beating the A’s 8-4 on Sunday.
“My stuff wasn’t as crisp as it was the last time,” Neal said. “I missed a few more spots. My sinker wasn’t sinking as much. You just have to grind through it.”
Neal appeared to do just that after hitting Dae-Ho Lee with a pitch leading off the fourth. Leonys Martin lined out to right and Mike Zunino hit into what was originally ruled a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play.
Seattle manager Scott Servais challenged and replay officials ruled that second baseman Tyler Ladendorf missed the bag before throwing to first base.
Shawn O’Malley singled in Lee following the reversal.
“It’s not a big shift unless (O’Malley) gets a hit, and he got a hit,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Now all of a sudden there’s a run on the board that wasn’t there.”
Neal (2-2) allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings.
Davis hit his third home run in three days. He became the first A’s player with at least 30 homers since Brandon Moss hit 30 in 2013.
“It’s just a number,” Davis said. “I think most importantly I’m healthy and helping the team.”
Ryon Healy and Brett Eibner also homered for the A’s.
Adam Lind homered, Nori Aoki had three singles and O’Malley added two hits and scored twice for Seattle. The Mariners moved within 5 1/2 games of AL West-leading Texas, matching the closest they’ve been to the division leaders since early June.
Wade LeBlanc (2-0) gave up three runs over six innings to earn his second win since being acquired from Toronto in June. The lefty struck out seven and walked one.
“Wade threw well,” Servais said. “He’s disappointed on the curveball to Davis for the home run, but Davis is having a heck of a year. He’s got big power. But Wade kept us right there and we got a little cushion for him and he got through six, which was nice.”
Every Seattle player except designated hitter Lee had at least one hit. Lee, a late lineup addition, was hit by a pitch in the fourth.
Lind homered in the second. Seager hit an RBI double in the third and a three-run double in the sixth.
GETTING A SHOT
In addition to homering, Eibner made his third start in right field and made a handful of catches while battling the later afternoon sun. Since trading Josh Reddick to the Dodgers, the A’s have primarily been playing Danny Valencia in right but will continue to give Eibner looks.
“Late in the game, right field’s really difficult to play with the sun in your eyes,” Melvin said. "(Eibner) looks good, moves around good, gets some good jumps. We’re going to get a good look at him coming up.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: Right-hander Jesse Hahn (right shoulder strain) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Athletics: LHP Ross Detwiler (1-0) makes his second start for Oakland when the A’s open a three-game series in Texas on Monday. Detwiler pitched eight scoreless innings against Baltimore in his debut on Aug. 10.