OAKLAND, California -- Nick Swisher killed the Seattle
Mariners late in the first game of the series. He did his
damage early on Tuesday.
Swisher drove in a season high-tying four runs as the Oakland
Athletics cruised to their 14th consecutive win over the
Mariners, 11-2.
In the Athletics' 5-4 triumph Monday, Swisher belted the
go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning off Mariners
reliever Rafael Soriano.
The switch-hitter finished 2-for-4
with four RBIs. On Tuesday, Oakland scored nine runs in the first
four frames to put the contest away and Swisher was a key part
of the onslaught.
"It was a big offensive night for our team," A's manager Ken
Macha said. "It has been a long time since we had that many
hits or a nice lead like that late in the game."
"We got down quick," Mariners manager Mike Hargrove said.
"Probably the big blow was in the fourth with nobody on, two
outs, they got some hits, and it went downhill from there.
Before you could blink, we were out of the game."
During a three-run second, Swisher doubled before scoring on
Marco Scutaro's two-run double to left. Swisher plated a run in
the next inning on an RBIs single to right that provided a
four-run cushion. He capped a five-run fourth with a
bases-clearing double to left for a commanding 9-0 advantage.
"I really have to tip my cap to the guys in front of me right
now," Swisher said. "Those guys are getting on base and putting
the pressure on. I'm just going up there trying to make good
contact."
"The big hit was the one Swisher had with two outs," Macha said.
"That was a big two-out at-bat."
Swisher matched a season best
with three hits and Scutaro added a career-high four RBIs for
the Athletics, whose run against Seattle is the second longest
in Oakland history vs. one team. It is two wins shy of the club
record set from September 1989-May 1991 against the New York
Yankees.
"Right now we're playing really good baseball," Swisher said.
"We have a lot of confidence when we come to the ballpark. I
think the key for us is if we stay healthy and confident. If we
do that, good things will continue to happen."
By extending this tear one more game, Oakland will match the
record for a single-season winning streak against a divisional
opponent which was set by Atlanta over San Diego in 1974.
Athletics starter Kirk Saarloos (5-6) benefited from the run
support in his first start since July 5. The righthander
yielded two runs and eight hits without a walk in six innings.
"I think I controlled my fastball and threw it for strikes,"
Saarloos said. "I think the big thing was that once we got
ahead I continued to throw it for strikes and not give them
anything free and make them earn the runs they got."
Meanwhile, Joel Pineiro (7-11) suffered his fifth loss of the
season vs. Oakland, which is the most in the majors for a
pitcher against one team. The righthander was blasted for
season highs of nine runs and 12 hits. He walked five in just 3
2/3 frames.
"Every ground ball found a hole," Pineiro said. "It's just
frustrating when a team is hot like that and everything is going
well for them. It feels like you want to throw an invisible
ball up there against them. There's nothing you can do right
now."
"Joel didn't have it tonight," Hargrove said. "He had command
issues. He would throw two good pitches, and then he would be
all over the place. Saarloos had command of his sinker, that
was the difference in the two pitching performances tonight."
Mark Kotsay extended his hitting streak to 14 games for the
Athletics, who have won five games in a row.
"Every day someone new does something to help us win," Scutaro
said. "That's a team."
Yuniesky Betancourt hit his sixth home run and Adrian Beltre pushed
his hitting streak to 11 for the Mariners, who have dropped their
last six contests.