The Seattle Mariners and Oakland A's didn't have much to play for in the season's last series, but the Mariners were hoping to at least avoid the sweep against the pesky Athletics.
The Mariners had high expectations coming into the season, but didn't come close to accomplishing those in the 2015 campaign. As for the A's, they sold their big names and this was more of a rebuilding year as they finished in the cellar of the AL West.
In this ballgame, however, it was a pitching duel between the two starters.
Vidal Nuno got the start for the Mariners and turned in an impressive outing going six innings giving up two runs on six hits while striking out four and walking one on 108 pitches. Nuno was acquired in the Mark Trumbo trade back in June and has turned in some solid outings for the Mariners down the stretch.
As for the A's, Chris Bassitt got the start and matched Nuno going six innings while giving up two runs on five hits while striking out three and walking five on 96 pitches.
On offense, the A's cracked the scoreboard first in this one in the third inning by way of a sac fly off of the bat of Bryan Anderson to score Craig Gentry. Later in the inning, Mark Canha hit a solo home run to put the A's up 2-0, but they couldn't scrape together any more offense in this one which they needed when it came down to it.
In the fourth inning, the Mariners got on the scoreboard as Logan Morrison hit a sac fly with the bases loaded to score Robinson Cano to cut into the A's lead. Then in the sixth inning, Jesus Sucre forced in a run on a 4-1 put out to tie the game at 2-2.
The deciding hit in this game came in the bottom of the eighth off of A's reliever Ryan Dull. On a 3-2 pitch, Seth Smith hit it just far enough over the wall that center fielder Sam Fuld couldn't quite reach it and it gave the Mariners a 3-2 lead which was all they needed in this one.
In the ninth inning, Tom Wilhemsen went 1-2-3 to strike out the side and hold on to secure the win in game 162 for this Mariners ball club.
Both sides in this one tallied six hits each, but the A's were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and they couldn't overcome that in this one.
The Mariners ended the season with a record of 76-86 placing fourth in the AL West while the A's ended in the cellar of the AL West with a record of 68-94.
WP: Logan Kensing (2-1, 5.87 ERA)
LP: Ryan Dull (1-2, 4.24 ERA)
SV: Tom Wilhelmsen (13 saves, 3.19 ERA)