After a four-game series with their closest pursuer, the A’s are no worse than where they were at the start of it - not a bad thing at this point of a pennant race.
Stephen Piscotty belted two homers and drove in five runs, matching his career high, to help ensure Oakland’s 8-2 victory over the Mariners, splitting the series to regain a 5 ½ game lead over Seattle for the second wild-card spot.
The A’s have not lost back-to-back series since May 7-13 and they’ve dropped just two of their past 22 series. Their 48-20 record since June 16 is the best in the majors.