Uncertainty about France casts shadow over Mariners' sweep

OAKLAND -- Simply put, the Mariners' 2-1 win on Thursday was a nonstop grind. They didn't record their first hit off Oakland starter Frankie Montas until the eighth inning. Then they pulled off the comeback by scoring two runs on three walks and two wild pitches in the top of the ninth.

Seattle came away with the series sweep, but the team may have to grind even harder in the coming days with first baseman Ty France's status uncertain after a concerning play at first base.

France exited Thursday's series finale in the fifth inning with an apparent elbow injury. The first baseman fell to the ground after A's third baseman Sheldon Neuse ran into him attempting to reach first base, knocking the glove off of France's hand. France remained down while manager Scott Servais and head athletic trainer Kyle Torgerson came out to aid him.

France needed help standing up, favoring his left elbow, but he walked off the field under his own power. Dylan Moore entered the game to replace him at first base.

After exiting the game, France got an X-ray, which came back negative. Servais said he is "cautiously optimistic" that the injury may not have been as bad as it looked, but the Mariners will have a better idea of France's status after he gets an MRI Friday.

"I'm still concerned," Servais said. "We're not out of the woods by any means. Certainly, he's a key cog in our offense. He's been so consistent all year long. You know what you're going to get from him every day, and not having him in there is going to be tough. Hopefully it's just a short amount of time."

France said he heard a crack during the collision, but he now thinks it was just a joint popping. After the game, he said his left elbow felt stiff after icing it, but he has full strength in the joint.

"I think that's every first baseman's fear, is that happening," France said. "I didn't even think it was a possibility right there, and next thing I know, my arm was getting ripped off."

The play at first may not have happened if not for a controversial call from home-plate umpire Nic Lentz. Mariners starter Robbie Ray and Neuse were in the middle of a seven-pitch at-bat before the collision. Ray's fifth offering, a four-seamer down in the zone, came on a 1-2 count and ostensibly could have been a called third strike. Instead, it was called a ball -- and Neuse singled two pitches later.

"A situation like that where the first baseman reaches into the line, a guy runs into his arm, you see him drop to the ground, drop his glove -- that's a tough situation," Ray said. "I'm hopeful that there's not significant damage, so we'll just have to wait and see."

France has been one of the Mariners' most consistent players this season. The first baseman is in the midst of a breakout season, slashing a career-best .316/.390/.476. Entering Thursday, France led American League first basemen in hits (87), total bases (131), bWAR (3.1) and fWAR (2.3).

Offense aside, the Mariners currently do not have much depth at first base on their active roster. Moore and Kevin Padlo, who each manned the position in France's absence on Thursday, have a combined 16 games at first in the big leagues. Abraham Toro and Luis Torrens, who are listed as options at first per Seattle's depth chart, have even fewer: 11.

Evan White will eventually be in the mix at first base, but he's currently on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma as he recovers from a sports hernia.

The Mariners haven't needed to figure out how to play without France so far. Up until now, he has missed just one game all season.

The team is hopeful that the 27-year-old can avoid a stint on the injured list. France said he feels better than expected, all things considered, but he won't really know how severe the injury is until the next day.

"We're playing good baseball, and I feel good at the plate and all that," France said, "so hopefully I'm able to get back out there."