Athletics Hold Off Mariners

JJ Bleday congratulating his Athletics teammates after scoring against the Mariners

Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

March 29, 2025

Athletics 4, Mariners 2

The Athletics used timely hitting and lights-out relief pitching to defeat the host Seattle Mariners, 4–2, Saturday at T-Mobile Park. Starting pitcher Osvaldo Bido, despite some control struggles, tossed five effective innings to keep the Mariners mostly quiet offensively. Catcher Shea Langeliers made up for his error, which put the Athletics behind, by belting a two-run homer to give his team the lead for good. Hogan Harris, Noah Murdock, Tyler Ferguson, and Mason Miller quelled any thoughts of a Mariners comeback by combining to pitch four scoreless relief innings.

Athletics – Mariners Game Summary

The Mariners threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the first, loading the bases with nobody out. Randy Arozarena ripped a liner toward center, but Athletics second baseman Max Muncy robbed him with a leaping catch. He scampered to the bag at second to turn a potential multi-run hit into an unassisted double play. Bido struck out Luke Raley, up next, to end the threat.

The Mariners took a 1–0 lead the next inning with an unearned run. With runners on the corners and two outs, Ryan Bliss — the runner on first — bolted for second. Langeliers fired to second, appearing to do so in time to get him, but the throw sailed into center, allowing Bliss to reach third as Rowdy Tellez scored.

Athletics Take the Lead for Good

Langeliers made up for it two innings later. With two outs and Brent Rooker on second, he lined a paint-scraper homer to left-center. His second homer of the season gave the Athletics a 2–1 lead. It became a 3–1 game in the sixth thanks to a two-out single to center by Miguel Andujar, who plated JJ Bleday from second.

The Mariners made it a 3–2 game in the bottom of the sixth on a one-out single to center by Jorge Polanco, Arozarena scoring from third. In the next half-inning, the Athletics got the run back and completed the scoring. Jacob Wilson hit a high popup near the third-base line, about 30 feet from home. Three Mariners converged on the popup — catcher Cal Raleigh, relief pitcher Collin Snider, and Polanco, the third baseman. Snider got a glove on it, but Raleigh backed into him while also trying to make the catch. Snider dropped the ball and fell on his backside, allowing Wilson to reach second. Two batters later, with Wilson on third and two outs, Rooker legged out an infield single to third, bringing Wilson in and making the score 4–2.

Murdock, Ferguson, and Miller slammed the door on the Mariners with scoreless efforts in the seventh, eighth, and ninth, respectively.

What Went Right for the Athletics

Timely Hitting

All four runs the Athletics scored came on two-out hits. Furthermore, of the seven Athletics runners left on base, only three were in scoring position. It helped that the Athletics batted 3-for-7 Saturday with runners in scoring position (.429).

Relief Pitching

Athletics relievers only allowed two runners to reach base in the final three innings, and none advanced beyond first. These came from a one-out walk surrendered by Murdock in the seventh and a one-out Crawford single in the ninth. The single came after Lawrence Butler made a valiant yet unsuccessful diving catch attempt in right field. Miller did not let it matter, as he authoritatively struck out the next two batters to quickly end the game.

Double Plays

The Athletics dashed the Mariners’ scoring hopes in the first and fifth with key double plays. In the first, Muncy’s leaping catch-turned-unassisted double play turned a bases-loaded, no-out situation into runner on third and two outs. With runners on first and second in the fifth, Wilson turned a one-out Raleigh grounder into an inning-ending double play. He smoothly fielded the grounder, stepped on second, and rifled it to first in time to retire the fast-for-a-catcher Raleigh.

What Went Wrong for the Athletics

Control from Starting Pitcher

It ultimately did not hurt the Athletics, but Bido walked four Mariners and plunked two of them.

Throwing Error

Langeliers’ throwing error in the second — his second error in three games — led to the first Mariners run. The Athletics have allowed two unearned runs so far, and both were unearned due to a Langeliers miscue. In Game One, the unearned run came after a Langeliers passed ball.

Quick Hits

Noah Murdock, whom the Athletics selected from the Kansas City Royals in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft, made his major league debut with one out in the sixth inning. The 6’8” Virginian inherited two runners from Hogan Harris and stranded them. He ultimately allowed no runs on no hits, walking one and striking out two. … All-Star closer Mason Miller made his first appearance of the season in the ninth, which was the first ninth-inning save situation the Athletics have faced in the young season. … Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller shares a name with longtime San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Bryce Miller, who succumbed to cancer on Sunday, March 23 at the age of 56. Sport Relay mourns the loss of our friend and colleague. We will miss seeing him while covering games against the Padres.

Looking Ahead

Bido earned the win as Bryce Miller took the loss. Mason Miller notched his first save of the season.

The Athletics and Mariners will conclude their four-game season-opening series Sunday afternoon. Athletics southpaw JP Sears will take the mound to face Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo. First pitch will be at 1:15 Pacific.