Haniger hits 2 HRs, M's beat A's to gain in wild-card race

SEATTLE (AP) — Mitch Haniger hit two identical three-run homers and the Seattle Mariners gained precious ground in the AL wild-card race with a 13-4 win over the Oakland Athletics on Monday night.

Seattle’s 10th straight victory against Oakland tied the team record for most consecutive wins against a single opponent. The Mariners have won eight of nine overall and nine of their last 11.

“We're fighting for that spot,” starting pitcher Chris Flexen said. “We want it and we're playing like we want it.”

Seattle is 1 1/2 games behind Boston for the second wild card, with Toronto a game back of the Red Sox. Both those teams were off Monday.

“We've got five games left and here we sit,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “This is some kind of season we've had and we've still got a lot to play for, so we'll see what tomorrow brings.”

Oakland fell 3 1/2 games behind Boston and two back of the Mariners with two more games to play in Seattle. The A's, last year's AL West champions, also were eliminated from the division race.

Haniger hit his first three-run homer to the bullpen in left field during a five-run fourth inning, then put the game away with his second shot to nearly the same spot in the sixth. He has 37 homers this season after sitting out for 18 months following two surgeries.

The usually reserved Haniger acknowledged being taken by the importance of the moment.

“These games are so meaningful coming in the last week of the season, and so every inning, every pitch is big,” the right fielder said.

Ty France reached base five times for Seattle, going 4 for 4 with a walk and four RBIs. J.P. Crawford added three hits and an RBI. Each scored three runs.

The Mariners picked up their 21st win with Flexen (14-6) starting on the mound. The right-hander struck out six,...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Haniger-hits-2-HRs-M-s-beat-A-s-to-gain-in-16492290.php