Athletics 7, Mariners 0
Jeffrey Springs, making his Athletics debut, dominated through six scoreless innings, holding the host Seattle Mariners to three hits while walking one and striking out nine. The offense had 12 hits, including three home runs, and the defense was stellar. After a tough loss the night before on late homers, the Athletics responded with a 7–0 blowout victory over the Mariners Friday night at T-Mobile Park.
“Jeffrey really controlled the game,” manager Mark Kotsay told reporters afterwards. “Changed speeds really well tonight. Had a great game plan against this team and used it effectively. Nine punch outs in six innings says a lot about the performance.”
Athletics – Mariners Game Summary
Springs allowed a two-out walk in the first before retiring the next ten consecutive hitters. Mitch Garver notched the Mariners’ first hit when he led off the bottom of the fifth with a single. He advanced to second on a follow-up single by Jorge Polanco. After Donovan Solano whiffed, Dylan Moore cracked a single to center. Garver tried to score from second, but center fielder JJ Bleday unleashed a howitzer, the throw arriving in plenty of time for Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers to gather it and get the tag down. Bleday also made a nice play to get Springs out of the jam, making a sliding catch on a sinking liner from J.P. Crawford for the third out.
Meanwhile, the Athletics had four players reach base in the first four innings but couldn’t bring anyone home against Luis Castillo. That changed in the fifth, when Lawrence Butler scorched a leadoff double off the wall in center. He scored when Brent Rooker, who smacked 39 homers in 2024 and 30 in 2023, launched his first of the young season.
Blowing It Open
The Athletics scored three more runs in the seventh off relievers Eduard Bazardo and Tayler Saucedo. They sent nine men to the plate that inning, scoring on singles by Bleday and Langeliers as well as a ground-rule double by Tyler Soderstrom. A two-out bases-loaded sinking liner to right by Gio Urshela threated to add more, but Victor Robles made a diving catch to quell the rally.
Athletics reliever Justin Sterner walked two of the four he faced in the seventh to give the Mariners runners on the corners with two outs, but T.J. McFarland came in to strike out Luke Raley and end the threat. Solo homers by rookie Max Muncy and newcomer Luis Urias in the eighth and ninth, respectively, finished the scoring. Mitch Spence pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth for the Athletics, facing eight hitters total, to finish off the Mariners.
What Went Right for the Athletics
Starting Pitching
Springs used his fastball, changeup, and slider to silence the Mariners, changing speeds and locations effectively to disrupt their hitters’ timing. The only inning where the Mariners threatened at all was the fifth. Between Springs and Opening Day starter Luis Severino, the Athletics starting pitchers have yet to allow a run.
Relief Pitching
Relief pitching cost the Athletics the game Thursday night, but on Friday, their relievers shut the Mariners down. Sterner, McFarland, and Spence combined to retire 9 of the 13 Mariners they faced, only allowing runners to even reach scoring position in the seventh.
Defense
In addition to Bleday’s performance in center field, Muncy made a slick play in the seventh with nobody out and runners on first and second. On a Jorge Polanco bouncer, he ranged to his left, gloved it, and made a spinning throw to second to get the force and hold the runner at third. Soderstrom also made several impressive scoops and stretches at first base to turn off-line throws into outs.
Hitting
The Athletics turned 12 hits and five walks into a 7–0 win. This came a day after only notching three hits and a walk, scoring a pair of runs on solo homers. “Tonight was a great night for a lot of the guys in the lineup,” Kotsay told reporters. “The top four guys, which we talked about last night, only reached base once (Thursday). (But) they were a driving force tonight.” Those top four guys — Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, JJ Bleday, and Shea Langeliers — combined for four RBI, four runs scored, and six hits, including a double and home run.
What Went Wrong for the Athletics
Very little. They did leave seven runners in scoring position, but they won 7–0, so it did not matter much.
Quotes
“(We made) the decision this off-season to bring both of these guys in to help lead this staff, to get them in front of these next three guys that (were) part of the rotation last year. For them to have these types of performances back-to-back, it sets the tone for sure. They’ve raised the bar quite a bit.” — Kotsay on the scoreless performances of offseason acquisitions Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs
Quick Hits
Muncy’s eighth-inning home run was not only his first major league homer and RBI, but it was his first major league hit. It was also the deepest ball hit all night, at 430 feet, and second-hardest hit of the night, at 108.7 mph. (both were according to Baseball Savant) … Muncy’s teammates gave him the silent treatment in the dugout when he returned after running the bases on his dinger. … Luis Urias, signed in the off-season, hit a two-out pinch-homer in the ninth for his first hit in an Athletics uniform. His ball, at 396 feet, was the second-deepest of the night. … T.J. McFarland led the majors with 79 appearances in 2024. He has opened 2025 by appearing in both games.
Looking Ahead
Springs earned the win, with Castillo taking the loss. There was no save.
The Athletics (1–1) and Mariners (1–1) will play the third game of their four-game set Saturday evening. Osvaldo Bido will take the mound for the Athletics against Bryce Miller of the Mariners in a battle of right-handers. First pitch from T-Mobile Park will be at 6:40 pm Pacific.
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