(07-27) 04:00 PDT Seattle -- These four games at Safeco Field could be the deciding factor when it comes to the A's season. A series win just might persuade the higher-ups that perhaps Oakland could jump back into contention. If it goes the other way, expect Mike Piazza and maybe a few others to be traded by Tuesday.
With that in mind, Dan Haren got his club moving in the right direction Thursday night, allowing two runs in seven innings in the A's 6-2 victory over Seattle. Nick Swisher homered from both sides of the plate, the first a solo shot in the fifth and the second a three-run rocket off the pole in left in the ninth inning.
"For us, this is like the playoffs,'' Haren said. "These games are so important. We put ourselves in a big hole, so every game we need to come out like it's a must-win game.''
The second-place Mariners have dropped a season-high seven games in a row, the longest current streak in the majors and they have fallen four games behind the division-leading Angels. Oakland has won five of its past eight games, is six games behind Seattle and 10 games out of first.
Haren (14-3) gave up a homer to Richie Sexson leading off the second and the Mariners scored again in the fifth when Yuniesky Betancourt reached on an infield single, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Adrian Beltre's hit up the middle.
In a key situation in the second, however, Haren retired Beltre, who entered the game with 13 hits in 29 at-bats against the right-hander. With two outs and men at the corners, Haren struck Beltre out (and in a similar situation in the fifth, he struck out Jose Vidro).
"I struck him out with my split finger, and it did a weird thing - it went in to him,'' Haren said. "Beltre's hit my split for a home run and, tonight, for an RBI double, and that was kind of a mistake split. I guess that's the only way to get him out, a funky one. He's been my kryptonite.''
Piazza drove in Oakland's first run with a base hit to left that sent Swisher in from third, and Mark Ellis thumped his fourth homer in 14 games since the break, a shot to left leading off the second inning.
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With that in mind, Dan Haren got his club moving in the right direction Thursday night, allowing two runs in seven innings in the A's 6-2 victory over Seattle. Nick Swisher homered from both sides of the plate, the first a solo shot in the fifth and the second a three-run rocket off the pole in left in the ninth inning.
"For us, this is like the playoffs,'' Haren said. "These games are so important. We put ourselves in a big hole, so every game we need to come out like it's a must-win game.''
The second-place Mariners have dropped a season-high seven games in a row, the longest current streak in the majors and they have fallen four games behind the division-leading Angels. Oakland has won five of its past eight games, is six games behind Seattle and 10 games out of first.
Haren (14-3) gave up a homer to Richie Sexson leading off the second and the Mariners scored again in the fifth when Yuniesky Betancourt reached on an infield single, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Adrian Beltre's hit up the middle.
In a key situation in the second, however, Haren retired Beltre, who entered the game with 13 hits in 29 at-bats against the right-hander. With two outs and men at the corners, Haren struck Beltre out (and in a similar situation in the fifth, he struck out Jose Vidro).
"I struck him out with my split finger, and it did a weird thing - it went in to him,'' Haren said. "Beltre's hit my split for a home run and, tonight, for an RBI double, and that was kind of a mistake split. I guess that's the only way to get him out, a funky one. He's been my kryptonite.''
Piazza drove in Oakland's first run with a base hit to left that sent Swisher in from third, and Mark Ellis thumped his fourth homer in 14 games since the break, a shot to left leading off the second inning.
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
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