Davis, A’s can’t overcome Mariners in 7-4 loss

SEATTLE — The good news for the Oakland A’s — Khris Davis appears to be starting one of his monstrous power streaks. The bad news — it wasn’t enough to overcome a bad inning from the A’s bullpen.

Davis continued his offensive power surge that seemed to be sparked a few nights ago in Los Angeles by blasting two home runs Friday night against the Seattle Mariners, making it three home runs in the past two games. But one painful inning was a backbreaker for the A’s in a 7-4 loss.

Chris Hatcher’s rough start to the season got worse. After a mound visit from catcher Jonathan Lucroy on a 2-2 count, Hatcher delivered a cutter to Mitch Haniger that was launched over the left field wall for a three-run homer to put give the Mariners a 5-3 lead. Two batters later, Daniel Vogelbach crushed a tworun home run to right off Hatcher. It was a five-run seventh inning allowed by the A’s bullpen, with all five runs coming with two outs.

Three of those five runs were charged to Hatcher, who now holds a 13.50 ERA through six appearances this season.

Davis’ first home run of the night came in the first inning on a 2-1 sinker from Mike Leake that was left up in the zone for a two-run bomb. The second was a solo shot that came in eighth on a 2-1 slider from Juan Nicasio to cut the A’s (5-9) deficit to 7-4. As he often does, both home runs went to the deepest part of the yard as they sailed over the wall in center field.

Matt Chapman killed some time in the A’s clubhouse before Friday night’s game against the Mariners (7-4) by imitating the batting stance and swing of every hitter on the roster, much to the delight of his teammates. But it might be his own swing other hitters should be trying to copy right now.

Chapman blasted his team-leading home run of the season in the sixth inning off Leake. The solo shot to center put the A’s ahead 3-2 at the time.

Chapman has now hit a home run in each of the A’s first five series this season.