Athletics’ win over Mariners locks in wild card game at the Coliseum
SEATTLE — The Tampa Bay Rays lost to the Toronto Blue Jays a few hours prior to first pitch. So the A’s knew home field advantage for the wild card game was one win away.
Ramón Laureano hit his second home run of the road trip, securing the A’s a 1-0 win on Saturday night over the Mariners and, therefore, home field for the wild card game versus the Tampa Bay Rays.
Brett Anderson finished his season with a five-inning shutout performance, striking out three with three hits allowed.
Yusmeiro Petit and Jake Diekman combined for two shutout innings, though Diekman navigated through a two-hit jam with a little help from Sean Murphy’s defense behind the plate — he wrangled a potential wild pitch with a runner on third representing the tying run.
Matt Olson saved a run in the fifth inning on an attempted bunt to score a run from third, whipping it cleanly to Murphy for the out at home.
Of note: The A’s are 2-for-36 with runners in scoring position on this road trip. Not a great time for the offense to fall into a slump.
Jesús Luzardo pitched two innings, first a perfect 8th with two strikeouts, then escaped some traffic in the ninth to secure the win.