Rich Hill wins again, A's end skid with 5-0 victory vs. Mariners

SEATTLE - Rich Hill pitched eight innings to win his fourth straight start, Stephen Vogt hit a leadoff homer in the seventh inning to snap a scoreless tie and the A’s beat the Seattle Mariners 5-0 on Monday night to end a four-game skid.

Taijuan Walker (2-4) held Oakland to two hits through six innings, but then Vogt opened the seventh by driving a 3-1 pitch deep over the right field wall for his fourth homer.

Hill (7-3) allowed six hits over the first three innings, then retired 14 consecutive batters before Chris Taylor’s bloop single to shallow center with one out in the eighth. Hill allowed eight hits, struck out six and walked none, throwing 81 of 107 pitches for strikes.

The A’s broke it open with four unearned runs in the eighth, aided by two throwing errors from shortstop Taylor, called up Sunday to replace injured Ketel Marte.

Walker allowed five runs - one earned - on four hits in 71/3 innings, his longest outing of the season.

Read a longer version of this article at pressdemocrat.com.