SEATTLE — Oakland’s offense couldn’t get much going against Seattle starter James Paxton, and Nelson Cruz drove in five runs for the Mariners as the A’s fell 7-2 in Seattle on Friday night.
Cruz, who was recently named to his fifth All-Star game, was 3 for 4 with a three-run home run. The designated hitter slugged a pair of RBI singles off A’s starter Sean Manaea (7-5, 3.76 ERA) in his first two plate appearances and is batting .583 with six RBIs in 12 career at bats against Manaea.
“He’s a pretty scary in the box,” Manaea said of Cruz.