OAKLAND -- A Mariners rotation that has relied heavily on its "Big Three" this season got another strong boost from rookie addition James Paxton on Tuesday as Seattle topped Oakland, 6-5, at O.co Coliseum.In his sixth start since coming off the 60-day disabled list, Paxton threw 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball in a dominant four-hit performance in which the A's never advanced a runner past first base until his final frame.Paxton allowed just four singles and three walks and further limited the damage thanks to three double-play grounders and a caught-stealing. 
It was a much-needed win for the Mariners, who had lost four of five coming in and are embarking on a tough final month. Seattle improved to 74-63 and stayed a game and a half back of the Tigers in the chase for the second American League Wild Card spot after Detroit rallied for a 4-2 win in Cleveland.While Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma and Chris Young have combined to go 38-18 this season, Paxton is emerging as a potential late-season difference maker as he's gone 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA in eight starts on the year.The 25-year-old Canadian is 8-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 12 career starts dating back to last season, which gives him the second-best ERA for any Major Leaguer in the first dozen starts of a career dating back to 1914. Steve Rogers of the Expos posted a 1.16 ERA in his first 12 starts in 1973, but no other big leaguer has been below 1.90 in that span.Oakland didn't cross the plate until pinch-hitter Adam Dunn's RBI single off Yoervis Medina with two out in the eighth, followed by a two-run double by Craig Gentry as both runners inherited from Paxton scored in the three-run rally.Fernando Rodney came on in the ninth for his 40th save, allowing two runs on three consecutive doubles before becoming the third Mariners pitcher with 40 or more in a season and five behind the club record set by Kazuhiro Sasaki in 2001.Seattle's offense supplied plenty of support in this one as third baseman Kyle Seager led the way with his 21st home run of the year, a two-run shot in the fifth that provided Paxton a 6-0 lead.Center fielder Austin Jackson's two-run single in the third and a two-run double by Endy Chavez in the fourth did the early damage as Seattle got to right-hander Sonny Gray, who had gone 4-0 with a 1.10 ERA in five prior starts against the Mariners.The six earned runs equaled the most allowed all season by Gray, who was ousted after five innings as his record fell to 13-8 with a 3.25 ERA.Seager, moved back into the cleanup spot after batting fifth in recent weeks, drove a 1-0 fastball into the seats as he increased his team-leading RBI total to 84. He's one home run and two RBIs short of career highs in both categories with 25 games remaining.Jackson went 2-for-4 and stole a base and is hitting .264 (32-for-121) with nine RBIs and six stolen bases since being acquired from the Tigers on July 31.Greg Johns / MLB.com
It was a much-needed win for the Mariners, who had lost four of five coming in and are embarking on a tough final month. Seattle improved to 74-63 and stayed a game and a half back of the Tigers in the chase for the second American League Wild Card spot after Detroit rallied for a 4-2 win in Cleveland.While Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma and Chris Young have combined to go 38-18 this season, Paxton is emerging as a potential late-season difference maker as he's gone 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA in eight starts on the year.The 25-year-old Canadian is 8-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 12 career starts dating back to last season, which gives him the second-best ERA for any Major Leaguer in the first dozen starts of a career dating back to 1914. Steve Rogers of the Expos posted a 1.16 ERA in his first 12 starts in 1973, but no other big leaguer has been below 1.90 in that span.Oakland didn't cross the plate until pinch-hitter Adam Dunn's RBI single off Yoervis Medina with two out in the eighth, followed by a two-run double by Craig Gentry as both runners inherited from Paxton scored in the three-run rally.Fernando Rodney came on in the ninth for his 40th save, allowing two runs on three consecutive doubles before becoming the third Mariners pitcher with 40 or more in a season and five behind the club record set by Kazuhiro Sasaki in 2001.Seattle's offense supplied plenty of support in this one as third baseman Kyle Seager led the way with his 21st home run of the year, a two-run shot in the fifth that provided Paxton a 6-0 lead.Center fielder Austin Jackson's two-run single in the third and a two-run double by Endy Chavez in the fourth did the early damage as Seattle got to right-hander Sonny Gray, who had gone 4-0 with a 1.10 ERA in five prior starts against the Mariners.The six earned runs equaled the most allowed all season by Gray, who was ousted after five innings as his record fell to 13-8 with a 3.25 ERA.Seager, moved back into the cleanup spot after batting fifth in recent weeks, drove a 1-0 fastball into the seats as he increased his team-leading RBI total to 84. He's one home run and two RBIs short of career highs in both categories with 25 games remaining.Jackson went 2-for-4 and stole a base and is hitting .264 (32-for-121) with nine RBIs and six stolen bases since being acquired from the Tigers on July 31.Greg Johns / MLB.com
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