SEATTLE (AP) – 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 and Hendriks threw a pair of wild pitches allowing Smith to advance to third. He jogged home on Long’s base hit.
Crawford followed going the opposite way down the left-field line and Long used his speed to score from first.