Mariners fall to A's in back-and-forth thriller, get eliminated from Post-Season contention

10/1 vs OAK by TOM HAYDEN

86-75, Eliminated from AL WEST, Eliminated from AL WILD CARD race ----

Our 2016 Seattle Mariners were narrowly defeated on Saturday night in Seattle in what was one of the craziest games I have ever watched. Unfortunately, the Mariners no longer have a shot at playoff baseball this year, as both the Toronto Blue Jays won, and we lost. It was one heck of a run, and we fought to just about the end... Game 161. We were in this thing for 161 out of 162 games games this season, which is a very positive thing to look at despite missing the playoffs again. In this blog today, I'll breakdown last night's game in detail. I will be releasing a Blog covering a few major parts of the 2016 season in what will be almost like a reflection, sometime in the coming days. In this game on Saturday night, to stay on topic, the Mariners fell in 10 innings to the Oakland Athletics. RHP Hisashi Iwakuma took the ball for his 33rd start of the season, the most by any Mariners' pitcher this year. Kuma had himself a quick outing, which was ultimately a problem in the long run. Offensively, the Mariners had a solid night, no doubt, despite some hiccups at the bottom of the lineup. With the loss, the Mariners have fallen to 86-75 on the season with 1 game left play on Sunday (10/2) afternoon. As I mentioned earlier, unfortunately, the 2016 Seattle Mariners have been eliminated from Post-Season contention. It will certainly be an off-season of positivity however, as we know how close we can get. We just need to make some changes here and there, obviously. 

Offensively in this one, the Mariners combined to put up an impressive 8 runs on 13 hits in the crazy ball game. CF Leonys Martin (.247 AVG) started the scoring up in the bottom of the second inning as drove a single to center field to score Kyle Seager. Martin went 1-for-4 on the night with that hit, and the RBI was his 47th of the season. LF Norichika Aoki (.283 AVG) who has been one of the clutchest hitters for the Mariners the season, especially this month, went 2-for-5 at the plate with a single and his 24th double of the season for an RBI and a run scored. The RBI was Aoki's 28th of the year. DH Nelson Cruz (.287 AVG) went 1-for-6 on the night with probably the most important hit of the Mariners' season, even though they did lose the ball game. If Seattle had won, this would have been the biggest hit the Mariners had ever seen since that 2001 year. Down 7-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning with Robinson Canó on at first base, Cruz LAUNCHED a 2-run home run to left to tie the ball game up at 7 a piece! The home run was Nelly's 43rd of the season, and the 2 RBI now gives him 105 on the year. 2B Robinson Canó (.299 AVG) had another flat-out fantastic night, and literally has had one of the best season's we have  seen from him in his career. Canó went 2-for-5 at the plate with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI! Robbie smacked his 39th home run of the season for a 2-run home run in the fifth inning. Robbie also had an RBI single in the ball game. With the 3-RBI day for Canò, he now has 103 to date! RF Ben Gamel (.178 AVG) tried to keep the Mariners alive a couple of times in this one as he pinch-hit for Seth Smith late in the ball game. Gamel went 2-for-2 with 2 very clutch hits in this one. One of which kept the Mariners alive in the ninth inning and sent the ball game to extra innings, as Gamel drilled an RBI single to right field to score Mike Freeman. The RBI was Gamel's 5th of the season. Mike Freeman (.158 AVG)  pinch-hit for Ketel Marte in the at-bat prior to Gamel's hit, and he got on with his 1st double of the season to put himself into scoring position. 

On the mound in this one, RHP Hisashi Iwakuma took the ball for his 33rd start of the season, and unfortunately, it was a short one. Iwakuma was only able to go 3.2 innings giving up 5 runs on 9 hits (all 5 earned) while walking 1 and striking out 5 A's in his outing. Constantly balls were just getting hit into the gaps of Safeco Field by that Oakland offense. Unfortunately, it was a bad night to have a... bad night. But, it happens, and it happened to Hisashi on Saturday night. Our most consistent pitcher of 2016 was Iwakuma, and we wouldn't have been in this situation without him. Hisashi's outing was a no decision, so he finish off 2016 with an individual W-L record of 16-12 with an ERA of 4.12 in just under 200.0 innings pitched this season. In relief on Saturday night, RHP Drew Storen (5.23 ERA) immediately came into the game going 0.1 innings with 1 strikeout. LHP Vidal Nuño (3.53 ERA) went 1.1 inning giving up 1 run on 2 hits (run earned) with 1 strikeout. RHP Nick Vincent (3.73 ERA) went 1.0 inning giving up 1 run on 1 hit (run earned) while striking out 1. Vincent gave up a solo home run. RHP Evan Scribner (0.00) continues to keep that ERA at 0 as he went 0.2 innings tossing a blank frame. RHP Steve Cishek (2.81 ERA) went 0.2 innings giving up 1 run on 2 hits with 1 walk and a strikeout. Cishek threw a ball away in a pick-off attempt to first base, and the runner would then advance to score in the inning. RHP closer Edwin Diaz (2.79 ERA) then tossed the final 2.1 innings of the ball game giving up 1 run on 2 hits (earned run) while walking none and striking out an impressive 3 A's on the night. Diaz suffered the loss in this one, and now has an individual W-L record of 0-4 on the season in just over 50.0 innings pitched. 

WHAT'S NEXT? : 

Game 162! The 2016 Seattle Mariners will now look to cap of this crazy season with a win come Sunday afternoon at Safeco Field in Seattle for series finale baseball with these A's. Looking to help the Mariners get that final W will be RHP Felix Hernandez (11-7, 3.71 ERA), making what will be his 25th and final start of 2016. King Felix and the M's are set and ready to take on OAK RHP Sean Manaea (6-9, 3.89 ERA). Be sure to catch the final game of what has been a great 2016 season for the Mariners on ROOT Sports NW for watching or listen in on KTTH 770 Radio! First pitch start time is scheduled for 12:10 PM PAC, 3:10 PM ET! 

This is Tom Hayden signing off saying Go Mariners! Stay #TrueToTheBlue.