OAKLAND — The ending could have gone better for the A’s on Sunday, but at this stage of their season, success isn’t judged solely by what the scoreboard reads.
Rookie Raul Alcantara fashinoned an impressive turnaround from his shaky major league debut, pitching into the sixth inning in the A’s 3-2 defeat that completed a three-game sweep by the Seattle Mariners.
It was a 2-2 game when the Mariners broke through against A’s closer Ryan Madson in the top of the ninth. Three consecutive hits, including Ketel Marte’s run-scoring single to center, made the difference as Seattle continued its dominance at the Coliseum.