A’s rally but fall short in Seattle

SEATTLE - Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager each hit a two-run homer, and Yovani Gallardo pitched effectively into the seventh inning as the Seattle Mariners made the most of four hits to hold off the Oakland Athletics 6-5 on Monday night.

Oakland scored twice in the ninth, when Mariners closer Edwin Diaz walked four of the five batters he faced to force in a run. Tony Zych relieved, and the second run scored on Khris Davis’ groundout.

After an intentional walk to Yonder Alonso loaded the bases again, Zych struck out Adam Rosales looking on a 3-2 pitch for his first major league save.

Cruz’s home run, his ninth, put Seattle up 4-0 in the second as the Mariners capitalized on five walks by Sean Manaea (1-3), activated earlier in the day off the disabled list.

Oakland pulled to 4-3 on a solo homer by Davis in the fourth and a two-run shot by Stephen Vogt in the fifth. Both came off Gallardo (2-3), who allowed three runs and four hits in 61/3 innings.

Seager made it 6-3 in the eighth with his third home run. Guillermo Heredia, who reached on a two-base throwing error by Chad Pinder, scored ahead of Seager.

Manaea’s four walks after a leadoff single by Jean Segura led to two Seattle runs in a 38-pitch first inning. Manaea escaped further damage by striking out Tuffy Gosewisch with the bases loaded to end the inning.

In the second, Cruz sent a 1-2 pitch over the center-field wall after a one-out walk to Segura. After that, Manaea retired the final 10 batters he faced.

He allowed four runs and two hits in five innings with seven strikeouts in his first start since April 26.

Davis made it 4-1 with one out in the fourth, fouling off six consecutive pitches with a full count before launching his 11th homer.

Oakland pulled to 4-3 when Trevor Plouffe singled to open the fifth and Vogt followed with his second home run.

NOTES

A’s right-hander John Axford (strained right shoulder) is likely to make his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Nashville today.

Catcher Bruce Maxwll was optioned to Nashville to makek room for Manaea.