Manaea fans 6 as A's notch 4th straight win

Manaea fans 6 as A's notch 4th straight win

April 22nd, 2017

OAKLAND -- The A's used the long ball to beat and the Mariners on Friday night, getting homers from and in a 3-1 victory at the Coliseum that extended their win streak to four games.
"We've talked about when we're good and what we feel like is good offensively for us is the length of the lineup, and multiple guys can hit some homers," A's manager Bob Melvin said.
Oakland starter did his part with six solid innings, holding the Mariners to one run, recorded in the third inning, when the red-hot Mitch Haniger sent an RBI triple down the third-base line.

Plouffe's second homer in as many days -- and the 100th of his career -- tied the game in the fifth, and Alonso greeted Iwakuma with a first-pitch home run to lead off the sixth as the A's went ahead, 2-1. Iwakuma then gave up a double to , who would later score on 's sacrifice fly.

"They got to those pitches, especially the slider up in the zone [to Plouffe] and didn't miss it," said Iwakuma. "And the other home run to Alonso was up and in, but he put a good swing on it. Those were the two pitches that cost the game."

Iwakuma, charged with all three runs in 5 1/3 innings, remains winless on the season. Manaea, meanwhile, was awarded his first victory of the 2017 campaign. The lefty's efforts included six strikeouts.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Taking control: Manaea's propensity to walk multiple batters has routinely hurt the lefty in this young season, which is why there was reason for concern when he issued a free pass to to put runners on first and second with two outs in the sixth inning of a 1-1 game. But Manaea, who has walked 12 batters and hit four more this season, found his footing against , following a visit from pitching coach Curt Young, striking Motter out to end the threat. The A's responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to secure him the win.

"After that inning, we had the momentum on our side, and throughout a baseball game, momentum is huge, and it can sway a game very easily," Manaea said. "Getting out of that inning was huge, and the offense put up a two-spot. Overall, it was a great game. We're playing really good baseball right now."
What a relief: Oakland's bullpen staved off the Mariners to maintain a two-run lead, first watching work around two baserunners in the seventh before passing the ball to . The lefty worked his magic with , striking out the slugger for the sixth time in his career, as Cano dipped to 2-for-19 against Doolittle. After Doolittle made quick work of the heart of Seattle's order, handled the ninth with ease for his third save in as many tries.
"We're trying to find some order with it," Melvin said. "But the way it played out again today, we had Duller for that seventh inning, the lefties were there in the eighth for Doolittle and righties for Casilla in the ninth. Casilla seems to be getting better and better. His command's better, a little better velocity, sharper breaking ball."

QUOTABLE
"We played a decent ballgame. We pitched well, we played decent defense, but you've got to score runs and we just didn't do it." -- Mariners manager Scott Servais as his team fell to 1-8 on the road  More >
UNDER REVIEW
The A's challenged a call in the fifth inning, when was ruled out on a pickoff play at first base to end the frame. Upon review of the play, the call stood.

WHAT'S NEXT
Mariners:, coming off his best start of the season, takes on the A's in Saturday's 1:05 p.m. PT game. The 28-year-old lefty threw seven scoreless innings with four hits against the Marlins to pick up his first win of the season.
Athletics: Right-hander will make his fourth start of the season Saturday, a 1:05 p.m. PT matchup with the Mariners at the Coliseum. Cotton (1-2. 5.40 ERA) had a no-decision in his only career appearance against the Mariners, an Oct. 1 start last year. He allowed four runs (three earned) in 4 1/3 innings.
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