Streaking A’s stay hot, pummel Seattle 9-2 to open series

Back-to-back home runs from Matt Chapman and Matt Olson powered the A’s to their fifth consecutive win, 9-2 over the Seattle Mariners Tuesday night.

This story has been updated with quotes and post-game material from the A’s clubhouse at the Oakland Coliseum.

The first home run came from third baseman Chapman, who continued his hot streak by going 3-for-4 with 5 RBI. Bob Melvin said:

“[Chapman’s] really developed into a guy that knows what he can handle. When he gets it, he doesn’t miss it. He just appears to be getting better and better.”

First baseman Olson followed up with his 20th home run of the season. The A’s have hit back-to-back home runs seven times this season.

A’s starter Daniel Mengden (W, 5-1, 4.21 ERA) struck out three Mariners while allowing four hits through seven innings. Mengden has not allowed a walk in his last three appearances, an important adjustment after he walked 16 batters in his first six games. Mengden said:

“It’s amazing. I’m not a big punch out guy, I’m not going to blow anybody away all the time. So it’s all about staying aggressive and being ahead. When I’m ahead I’m always in the driver’s seat.”

The Mariners started the night with a short-lived 1-0 lead when Omar Narvaez opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning.

The A’s responded in the bottom of the third, when Marcus Semien hit a double to put himself and catcher Josh Phegley in scoring position while breaking his 0-for-6 drought at the plate. Chapman followed up by sending a single between third and short, granting enough time for Phegley and Semien to reach home. Chapman extended his hitting streak to six games as he put the A’s ahead 2-1.

In the fifth inning, the A’s top batters struck again. With two outs, Semien was walked. Chapman added two more two runs by arcing a fly ball to left field for his 22nd home run of the season. Chapman said:

“Every game it seems like [Semien’s] getting on base and he’s giving me a chance to either hit him in or move him over and give [Olson] a chance. Ever since he’s been in the leadoff spot, it’s been huge for us.”  

Olson then launched a line drive into the stands for the 5-1 lead. Olson is on a career-high 11-game hitting streak.

Center fielder Ramon Laureano put on a show with a solo effort to push the lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning. Laureano put himself on second base with a double, stole third, then continued all the way home after a throwing error by Mariners second baseman Dee Gordon.

Chapman continued to control the game, doubling his third hit of the night down the left-field line to bring Semien in for another run in the bottom of the seventh.

The runs kept pouring in for the A’s, as Phegley grounded a two RBI single into centerfield to bring in Laureano and Chad Pinder for the 9-1 lead.

In the top of the ninth inning, Narvaez tacked on his second home run of the night to make it 9-2.

Up Next

The A’s play the Mariners again Wednesday afternoon before heading to Minnesota for a four-game road series.