Athletics vs Mariners Series Highlight: In a high-octane May 5, 2021, matchup, the Oakland Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners by a 7 6 walkoff score in the 11th inning. From lead changes and key home runs, to pitching duels and big hits at the right moments to help keep the mood electric well into the extra frames, this game had it all.
Early Momentum for Oakland
Miguel Andujar brought the Athletics’ first run in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly, giving Oakland a 1 0 lead. Jacob Wilson extended that lead in the second with an RBI single, and the Étendard were aggressive at the plate in that early going. An impressive offseason addition, solid defense helped the Mariners remain scoreless through the first two innings, including a highlight leaping grab by new guy Leo Rivas to rob a potential base hit.
Mariners Storm Back in the Third
But Seattle found their rhythm in the third inning. Rowdy Tellez followed with an RBI double, and run-scoring hits from Miles Mastrobuoni and Ben Williamson started to fall in line. All totaled, the Mariners scored four in the frame to go up 4–2 and throw off the scoreboard, and effectively, Luis Severino.
Langeliers Sparks a Comeback
The Athletics weren’t done yet. Catcher Shea Langeliers, whose seventh home run of the season was a towering solo shot in the bottom of the fourth, got the scoring started with an RBI single in the sixth, and Yaz followed one batter later after dropping the ball in the outfield. Soon thereafter, Lawrence Butler delivered an RBI single to even up the score at 4-4. The surge in both offense got the Oakland crowd cranked once more and helped settle the pitching staff.
Bullpens Take Over in the Middle Innings
Bulls and Dogs put on a fireworks show early, and then the game turned into a battlefield between the bullpens. But it was also a game of clutch defensive plays, as Nick Kurtz started an inning-ending double play in the seventh. Despite a shaky third inning, Luis Severino finished his night with a strikeout to avoid further damage. Relievers for both teams stepped up, managing high-pressure situations and preventing either team from breaking the deadlock.
Late-Inning Drama Unfolds
Shea Langeliers returned to the center of the spotlight in the seventh with a sacrifice fly that gave the Athletics a 5 4 lead. In the top of the eighth, the Mariners responded, as Ben Williamson’s second RBI single knotted the game up for the third time. Mason Miller punched out Cal Raleigh to lead off the top of the ninth and keep the score tied at five, making for an increasingly tight game from there.
Jacob Wilson continued his unrelenting day on the bottom of the 10th, singling in a tying run after Seattle went up 6- 5 on a Mastrobuoni sac fly. Both closers were forced to work out of a jam to send it to the 11th, setting the stage for a late finish.
Jacob Wilson Delivers the Walk-Off
This was the hero of the night, Jacob Wilson. Wilson, who already had two hits and RBIs on the night, stepped to the plate in the 11th and drove in the clutch walk-off single off Casey Legumina that gave Oakland a 7 6 win. It was Wilson’s second walk-off hit of 2017 and the third of his young career, and solidifies his status as the A’s rising star in the lineup.
Takeaways and Series Impact
Both squads were resilient in this extra-inning battle. Oakland’s timely hitting and bullpen grit were what made the difference, even as Seattle’s offense was potent. The Athletics kept their pennant hopes alive Sunday with a win that gave them a critical series edge but also showed their mettle to keep fighting in the thick of things, and how they’re brimming with young talent willing to take the burden in pressure situations (Wilson).
With the stakes rising and now clear evidence that fireworks continue, look for more excitement.
