September 28, 2019

Mariners pull out win but A’s clinch AL wild card spot anyway

Associated Press

Oakland Athletics' Marcus Semien rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)The Associated Press

Oakland Athletics' Marcus Semien follows through on a line out to left field during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)The Associated Press

Seattle Mariners left fielder Shed Long runs next to a graphic on the outfield wall after catching a line-out by Oakland Athletics' Marcus Semien during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)The Associated Press

A fan holds a sign that reads "A's Clinch!" during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, in Seattle. The Athletics clinched a wild-card berth in the American League before the first pitch of their game when the Cleveland Indians lost to the Washington Nationals. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)The Associated Press

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Mike Fiers throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)The Associated Press

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Justus Sheffield throws against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)The Associated Press

SEATTLE — The Oakland Athletics wrapped up a playoff spot before the first pitch, then missed a chance to move closer to hosting next week’s AL wild-card game when closer Liam Hendriks gave up two runs in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.

The A’s are tied with Tampa Bay for the two wild-card slots at 96-64 — if they wind up even, Oakland would host the Rays on Wednesday night.

The Athletics sealed their postseason berth when Cleveland lost to Washington. Many of the A’s exchanged a brief set of hugs and high fives in the dugout after the Indians loss went final.

Shed Long’s two-out RBI single scored Mallex Smith with the tying run and J.P. Crawford followed with an RBI double to win it for the Mariners.

Hendriks (4-4) blew his seventh save of the season. Seattle tied the game at 3 on Long’s two-strike single up the middle. Smith singled with one out, moved up on a pair of wild pitches and jogged home on Long’s hit.

Crawford followed going the opposite way down the left-field line and Long used his speed to score from first.

It’s the second straight year and third time since 2014 the A’s have earned a wild-card berth. Last year the A’s lost 7-2 to the New York Yankees in the wild-card game, and they fell to Kansas City in 2014.

Matt Olson appeared to make it celebratory night for the A’s with a two-run home run off Taylor Guilbeau in the seventh inning to give Oakland a 3-2 lead. It was his 36th home run of the season and brought raucous cheers from the small smattering of fans in green around the ballpark.

But Hendriks ran into trouble in the ninth. He had allowed just two earned runs in the past 10 appearances.

Oakland Seattle

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Semien ss 3 1 1 1 Long lf 4 2 2 1

Laureano rf 5 0 0 0 Crawford ss 3 1 1 1

Chapman 3b 5 1 2 0 Nola 1b 3 0 2 1

Olson 1b 3 1 1 2 Gordon pr-2b 0 0 0 0

Canha cf 4 0 0 0 Seager 3b 4 0 0 1

Davis dh 3 0 0 0 Lewis rf 4 0 1 0

Pinder lf 3 0 2 0 Vogelbach dh 2 0 0 0

Neuse 2b 2 0 1 0 Lopes ph-dh 1 0 1 0

Profar ph-2b 1 0 0 0 Narvaez ph-dh 1 0 0 0