James Paxton was back on the mound, Dee Gordon both drew a walk and hit a two-run home run, Robinson Cano homered and Mike Zunino pushed his season batting average over .200 for the first time in over a month.
Yes, the Oakland Athletics already had the celebratory bottles of bubbly champagne on ready in the visiting clubhouse of Safeco Field, learning one out into the game that they had secured their place in the postseason with Tampa Bay losing to New York.
Yes, this same A’s team that was under .500 and trailing the Mariners by 11 1/2 games in late June.