Canha’s clutch ninth-inning homer lifts A’s past Mariners

SEATTLE (TNS) – The A’s offense has the ability to strike at any moment, even when looking bad most of the night. That’s exactly what happened.

After A’s hitters were overpowered by Mariners starter James Paxton, striking out a season-high 16 times in seven innings, the offense finally broke through in the eighth.

Jed Lowrie, who seems to be carrying over his outstanding numbers from an April that saw him set an Oakland record for most hits, took Juan Nicasio deep to center field for a two-run shot to tie the game 2-2. Mark Canha then hit the go-ahead solo shot to left in the ninth off Mariners lights-out closer Edwin Diaz, securing the 3-2 win to snap the A’s threegame losing streak.

It was the first home run and just the second run allowed by Diaz this season after being named American League Reliever of the Month for April earlier in the day.

The late-inning comeback prevented Brett Anderson from getting the win, but the left-hander certainly looked sharp in his first start back with the A’s since April 24, 2013.

Anderson allowed just two runs on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts over 61/3 innings pitched, thowing only 80 pitches before he was pulled for Ryan Dull.

Featuring a fastball sitting around 9294 mph, Anderson was able to get mostly weak contact from Mariners (17-12) hitters throughout the night. The fastball mixed with his slower curve and slider allowed for good variation of speeds as he was able to give manager Bob Melvin exactly what he was hoping for when they first signed Anderson to a minor league deal towards the end of spring.

Melvin went to closer Blake Treinen in the eighth looking to keep the game tied, and though he found himself in a dangerous spot with the bases loaded and one out, Trenen reached back for some of his filthiest stuff in his arsenal.

Treinen struck out Nelson Cruz and Mitch Haniger to strand the bases loaded, with the strikeout to Haniger featuring three consecutive power sinkers down and in.

It was deja vu in the ninth with the Mariners loading the bases again, but Treinen got Jean Segura to ground out to short for the final out of the game.