Mitch Garver and Luis Urías each drove in four runs, George Kirby struck out nine in six innings, and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Oakland Athletics 16-3 on Wednesday night.
Seattle, which was 5 1/2 games behind the last AL wild card spot before the game, set a season record for runs and ended a four-game losing streak, bringing their record to .500 at 70-70.
The Mariners scored seven runs in the seventh inning, sending 12 batters to the plate, and added four more runs in the eighth.
“Just a bust-out game for everybody,” Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. “A lot of special things that can still happen on this club in the last several games here.”
Kirby (11-10) improved to 5-0 against the A’s in his career and had eight strikeouts through the first four innings.
The 26-year-old said he made a small mental adjustment after allowing five runs in a loss last week against the Angels by “just ripping it” and trusting his stuff.
“I was just thinking too much the last couple weeks,” Kirby said. “I’m always at my best when I just keep it simple and just attack guys.”
Leading by one run in the fourth, the Mariners hit four straight two-out hits off A’s starter JP Sears (11-10) to extend their lead to 5-1. After Victor Robles hit a double, Garver knocked in his third run of the game with a single. Urías and Dylan Moore each followed with RBI hits.
“Two-out RBIs are so big, and they’re backbreakers on the other side,” Wilson said. “Our guys put up some great at-bats and gave George what he needed in terms of the lead.”
Urías led off the seventh with a solo homer, and then the next six Mariners reached base, widening the lead. Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena, and Victor Robles each drove in runs to make it 12-2.
A’s reliever Janson Junk was responsible for all seven runs in the seventh and did not record an out, allowing six hits and two walks. Oakland gave up a season-high 16 runs.
