Recap: Seattle vs. Oakland
Sports Network | August 24, 2008
Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Dana Eveland hurled seven strong innings and the Oakland Athletics assured themselves of a series split to end a streak of 11 straight losing series with a 5-1 triumph over the Seattle Mariners, in the third installment of a four-game series.
Eveland (8-8) gave up one run on five hits while walking one and fanning seven in picking up his first win since July 7. The lefty was recalled from Triple- A Sacramento Thursday following an early August demotion, which Eveland got after giving up nine runs in two-plus innings in his last outing against the Red Sox on August 2.
Bobby Crosby had three hits and two RBI while Daric Barton connected on a two- run home run. Frank Thomas broke out of a career-long 0-for-23 slump with a pair of hits and an RBI for Oakland.
The last time Oakland won a series was against Seattle in a four-game set from July 7-10. The A's won three of four then, and will attempt to duplicate the feat in Sunday's series finale. Seattle hasn't fared much better, having lost eight of nine games overall, with just one series win in its last 12.
Jarrod Washburn (5-14) lost his fifth straight start in allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks, while Wladimir Balentien notched the lone RBI for Seattle.
Thomas snapped his streak with a single to start the fourth, moved to second on a wild pitch and later scored on Barton's two-out blast to right-center.
The A's added a run in the fifth on Crosby's RBI single to center. Eric Patterson started the inning with a double.
Mark Lowe took over for Washburn in the seventh as the A's padded their lead. Patterson opened the frame with a single, stole second and beat out a throw to third on Rajai Davis' fielder's choice to put runners on the corners. Crosby slapped an RBI single to right and Thomas sent a single off the pitcher into right field to plate a run two batters later.
Seattle scored its lone run in the bottom half on Balentien's RBI double.
Oakland leads the season series 7-5 and took two of three at Safeco Field April 25-27...Oakland is an MLB-worst 8-26 since the All-Star break and has not won back-to-back games since July 10-11, a span of 36 contests. It's the longest stretch the franchise has endured without a winning streak since moving to Oakland in 1968...Sunday's series finale will feature starters Dan Meyer (0-1) for Oakland and Felix Hernandez (7-8) for Seattle.
