SEATTLE -- James Paxton returned to the rotation, Robinson Cano continued hitting and Dee Gordon muscled up again. But the Mariners couldn't slow the A's runaway train on Monday as Oakland homered four times in a 7-3 series-opening victory at Safeco Field after clinching an American League playoff berth earlier in the day.
Oakland wrapped up at least a Wild Card berth when the Rays lost to the Yankees just as Seattle and Oakland got underway, but the A's didn't stop there as they took care of their own business in improving to 95-62.