SEATTLE — The final time for the A’s with “Oakland” across the front of their gray road uniforms was nearly a historic day for the Seattle Mariners’ Logan Gilbert on Sunday.
The A’s, in their final game before moving to their temporary home in Sacramento next season, didn’t get a runner on base against Gilbert before Nick Allen’s soft single into left field with two outs in the sixth inning. The A’s rallied late for the second game in a row, but again were thwarted, falling 6-4 to the Mariners a day after falling 7-6 in 10 innings.
Fans cheer as former Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics player Rickey Henderson delivers the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Mariners and Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Oakland was swept in its final series after Thursday’s emotional 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers in the franchise’s final game at the Oakland Coliseum.
The A’s and Mariners will see each other again in Seattle to open next season.
The final day for Oakland (69-93) was filled with appreciation and honor for the A’s, along with feelings of sadness the team no longer would represent the East Bay city.
Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson threw out the ceremonial first pitch on the final day, wearing a half-A’s, half-Mariners jersey. While Henderson played the majority of his career in Oakland, making his debut in 1979, he spent part of one season with Seattle in 2000.
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Fans of the green and gold turned out for the finale, starting “Let’s go Oakland” chants throughout the game, many of them wearing shirts or carrying signs imploring the A’s current ownership to sell the team.
Tyler Nevin had a two-run double in the seventh inning to make sure Oakland’s final game didn’t end in a shutout and Darell Hernaiz had a two-run double in the ninth.
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Gilbert took a perfect game into the sixth inning to cap the best season of his career and Cal Raleigh hit a record-setting two-run homer for the Mariners.
Gilbert was removed from the game after allowing the single to Allen with two out in the sixth. He struck out seven and finished the season with 208 2/3 innings pitched, becoming the first Seattle pitcher to lead baseball in innings for a season. Gilbert (9-12) finished with 220 strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 3.23. And while Detroit’s Tarik Skubal seems to be the consensus choice for the AL Cy Young Award, Gilbert should finish high in the voting.
Raleigh’s two-run homer to cap Seattle’s four-run fifth inning came on the final pitch from A’s starter Mitch Spence (8-10). Raleigh’s homer was the 93rd in his career, passing Mike Piazza for the most home runs by a catcher in their first four seasons.
