Gio Gonzalez’s 7 shutout innings lead Athletics to 8-1 win over Mariners

Gonzalez’s 7 shutout innings lead Athletics

SEATTLE — Gio Gonzalez battled through early control problems to throw seven scoreless innings and the Oakland Athletics defeated the Seattle Mariners 8-1 on Thursday night.

Gonzalez (15-9) couldn’t find the strike zone in the fourth inning, walking Justin Smoak and Adam Moore on nine pitches. Matt Mangini sacrificed the runners over. Michael Saunders drew a two-out walk to load the bases, but Josh Wilson flied out to center field to end the threat.

Oakland started to piece together singles off Mariners starter Doug Fister. Jeremy Hermida singled to lead off the fifth inning and Rajai Davis and Daric Barton both singled with two outs to load the bases before Fister (6-14) balked in a run. Mark Ellis singled to score Davis from third. Fister had Ellis picked off at first base, but Barton induced a throw home that allowed Ellis to reach second safely. Jack Cust then singled to score Barton and Ellis to give the A’s a 4-0 lead.

Kevin Kouzmanoff singled to lead off sixth inning and Carter homered to left field to give Oakland a 6-0 lead and chase Fister.

Pennington and Davis singled off reliever Brian Sweeney to put runners on the corners. Davis then stole second base and an errant throw from catcher Moore went into center field, allowing Pennington to score from third for a seven-run lead.

Pennington added a home run off Anthony Varvaro in the eighth inning to extend the lead to 8-0.

Seattle’s run scored in the eighth inning. Smoak singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Vin Mazzaro. Two fielder’s choice’s by Mangini and Greg Halman allowed Smoak to score.

Notes: Seattle RHP Felix Hernandez will not make another start this season. … Mariners RF Ichiro Suzuki was honored before the game as the first player in major league history to record 200 hits for the 10th consecutive season. … A’s OF Rajai Davis had four hits for the fourth time this season. … Smoak extended his hitting streak to seven games, matching a career-high. He went 2 for 2 with two walks.