OAKLAND -- The A's raced to a five-run lead, let it slip, and still came out victorious to gain a game in the American League West on Friday night.
A mighty bullpen led the way, helped along by a pair of runs that dismantled a tie in a 7-5 win over the Mariners, thus voiding a wobbly outing from Mike Fiers.
Combined with an Astros loss, the A's moved within 1 1/2 games of first-place Houston, all the while stretching their AL Wild Card lead over the Mariners to 5 1/2 games with 26 to play.