It's been hard enough for the Mariners to gain a lead in games lately. Holding those leads have been even harder.
After leaving the game after six innings having given up no runs and holding a 3-0 lead, starter Jarrod Washburn watched the lead evaporate from the sidelines in one innings' work.
Reliever Miguel Batista gave up four runs in the bottom of the seventh, as the Mariners went on to lose to the Athletics 4-3 today in Oakland.
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The game seemed to begin on the right track for a Mariners team that has struggled to produce runs of late.
They got to Athletics starter Dallas Braden early, scoring two runs in the top of the first, beginning with a Mike Sweeney one-run double, followed by a Russell Branyan one-run single.
However, with runners on first and third and only one out, second baseman Jose Lopez grounded out into a double play. The Mariners wouldn't score again until the seventh.
Braden entered the game leading his team in ERA with a minimum 45 innings pitched with a 3.67 ERA.
In the decisive inning, Batista gave up only three hits but walked two more. Mark Lowe came in with the bases loaded and one out.
He got the first batter he faced to fly out but then walked in the tying run and gave up a one-run single to Jason Giambi before getting out of the inning.
After losing the lead, the Mariners failed to even get on base and went out one-two-three in both the eighth and ninth inning. Both Adrian Beltre and Lopez left three runners on base.
It was Batista's first loss of the season.
The Mariners conclude their series with the Athletics at 3:35 p.m. Wednesday in Oakland.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
