Davis Hits 29th Home Run, A's Lose To Mariners 4-3
OAKLAND (CBS/AP) -- In his first season with the Athletics, Khris Davis is doing his bests to shatter the myth about the Oakland Coliseum being unfriendly to power hitters.
It's gotten to the point that Davis' teammates are pausing to watch the A's slugger when he comes to the plate.
If only they could follow his lead.
Davis, who was traded to Oakland in the offseason after three years in Milwaukee, hit his 29th home run and second in two nights, but the A's stranded four runners on third base and lost 4-3 to the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night.
"It's been impressive," catcher Stephen Vogt said. "If you had told me he was going to shatter his career high in homers moving from Milwaukee to Oakland, I would have laughed in your face. He's making the Coliseum look like a hitter's park."
Coco Crisp and Billy Butler had three hits apiece for the A's, who went hitless after Crisp's leadoff single in the seventh.
Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz both homered to lead the Mariners to their seventh win in eight games.
Cruz hit his 29th home run leading off the fourth inning. Seth Smith singled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the fifth and Cano hit the next pitch from Kendall Graveman (8-8) over the center-field wall for his 26th homer.
Graveman allowed four runs over six innings and lost for the second time in his past 14 starts. He was pulled after 79 pitches.
"This year is a lengthy one for him so I don't think it's a bad thing to cut it short," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "Maybe not as sharp as we've seen him during the stretch when he was really good but battled maybe not with his best stuff."
Hisashi Iwakuma (14-7) pitched into the sixth for his eighth win in the last nine starts. He allowed three runs on nine hits despite being bothered by a sore neck.
"Until noon today it was still up in the air," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "It speaks to the type of professional he is. He just goes out and battles with his stuff."
Four Seattle relievers combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Edwin Diaz retired three batters for his sixth save.
THE BUTLER IS DOING IT
Butler didn't get much playing time earlier in the season but has been one of the A's top hitters as of late. Over his past 11 games, the first baseman is batting .474 (18 for 38) with seven RBIs. "That's why I'm trying to get him there against as many righties as I can," Melvin said. "He's squaring it up, using the whole field. A lot of confidence. He's doing a nice job."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: Former closer Sean Doolittle (left shoulder strain) will begin a rehab assignment and pitch one inning for Triple-A Nashville on Monday. The plan is for Doolittle to make two more appearances in the minors before potentially joining the A's on their next homestand beginning Aug. 22. ... RHP Jesse Hahn (right shoulder strain) threw 30 pitches off the mound and could begin a rehab assignment soon. ... Josh Phegley (right knee strain) took batting practice before the game but has not done any catching.
UP NEXT
Mariners: Wade LeBlanc (1-0) makes his seventh start in the series finale on Sunday. The lefty last started against Oakland on Sept. 23, 2014.
Athletics: RHP Zach Neal (2-1) faces the Mariners for the second time this season. His only loss of the year came against Seattle on May 25 when he allowed seven runs in four innings. AP-WF-08-14-16 0547GM
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