The Mariners (26-18) started the day with the best road record in the league at 18-7, but they are 8-11 at home this season and have lost all four of their home games against the A’s.
For most of his 102 pitches, Taijuan Walker was everything the Mariners could have wanted.
He worked ahead in the count, both fooled and overpowered Oakland’s hitters and pitched longer than he had all season. The problem, at least at first, was just one pitch.
In the seventh inning, Walker left a pitch up in the strike zone, and Oakland catcher Stephen Vogt broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run.