Athletics Feel the Pinch in Loss

Pinch-hitters Rob Ducey and Charles Gipson delivered consecutive run-scoring hits in a three-run eighth inning Monday night as the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics, 5-2.

The score was tied, 2-2, in the eighth when Raul Ibanez’s one-out pop-up fell out of the reach of three Athletic fielders along the third-base line for a double.

Ducey then hit a drive high off the right-center wall for a go-ahead double that chased Oakland starter Gil Heredia.

Facing Buddy Groom, Gipson hit a single down the right-field line to score pinch-runner Giomar Guevara. Shane Monahan doubled in Gipson with two outs.

Heredia (3-3) went seven-plus innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. He walked none and struck out five. He also hit three batters, including John Marzano twice.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit the ball hard three times, but went hitless in four at bats and remained at 53 home runs. Griffey needs two RBIs to join Babe Ruth (1926-31) and Lou Gehrig (1930-32) as the only players to drive in 140 or more runs in at least three consecutive seasons.

Rickey Henderson played his 2,607th game to pass Dwight Evans for 29th place all-time. Henderson also tied Paul Waner for 30th place all-time with 9,459 career at-bats.

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Next Series for Angels

Who: Oakland A’s

Where: at Oakland

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

Friday, 7 p.m.

Saturday, 1 p.m.

Sunday, 1 p.m.