Swisher’s Home Run Lifts A’s to Victory
Nick Swisher hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Oakland Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners for the 13th straight time, 5-4, on Monday night.
Mark Ellis and Frank Thomas also homered for the first-place A’s, who lost the first meeting of the year but have won the last 13 in the season series -- the Mariners’ second-longest skid to any team in franchise history. The club record for consecutive losses against a single opponent is 15 against the Boston Red Sox during the 1977-78 seasons.
Rafael Soriano (1-2) blew his fourth save chance when he gave up Swisher’s shot to right. Soriano relieved George Sherrill after Eric Chavez led off the eighth with a single.
Justin Duchscherer pitched the ninth for his third save in five opportunities as Oakland won its fourth straight game and sent Seattle to its fifth straight loss.
The Mariners are winless through the first five games of their 11-game trip.
The A’s increased their AL West lead to 5 1/2 games over the Angels and Texas.
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