Seattle @ Oakland preview

Seattle at Oakland

Last Meeting ( Apr 3, 2013 ) Seattle 2, Oakland 6

The Oakland Athletics used a pair of newcomers to snap a season-opening offensive funk Wednesday. They’ll look to continue their offensive surge Thursday when they attempt to split their four-game home series with the Seattle Mariners. Nate Freiman, a Rule 5 Draft pick from the Houston Astros, had two hits and an RBI single in his major-league debut while Jed Lowrie, acquired in a trade from Houston just before the start of spring training, went 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs. The offensive explosion was a welcome sight after the team managed one run and six hits in the first two games of the series.

Seattle got a big offensive lift from Michael Morse’s two-homer game Tuesday, but the Mariners’ new-look lineup collapsed Wednesday after Morse and Franklin Gutierrez homered in the first inning as Oakland starter Tommy Milone retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced. While Morse is off to a solid start (4-for-12) after arriving from the Washington Nationals, Kendry Morales has one hit in his 12 at-bats with Seattle following his trade from the Los Angeles Angels.

TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Seattle), Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Brandon Maurer (NR) vs. Athletics RH A.J. Griffin (2012: 7-1, 3.06)

Maurer, making his major-league debut, was selected in the 23rd round of the 2008 draft and considered a long shot to stay with the team after spring training. However, he grabbed a spot in the rotation by going 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 24 innings in exhibition play. The Newport Beach, Calif., native also beat out more highly regarded pitching prospects such as Danny Hultzen, Taijuan Walker and James Paxton for organizational minor-league pitcher of the year honors last season.

Griffin was something of a revelation – particularly at home – for the Athletics after making his big-league debut on June 24. He used spacious O.co Coliseum to his advantage, holding hitters to a .215 average en route to a 3-0 record, a 3.21 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in eight home starts. He also had little trouble with the Mariners last season, winning both of his starts and holding them to two runs over 11 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland had seven extra-base hits Wednesday after managing two in the first two games combined.

2. Maurer went 9-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 117 strikeouts over 137 2/3 innings at Double-A Jackson in 2012.

3. The Athletics claimed Will Harris off waivers from the Colorado Rockies Wednesday and designated fellow reliever Josh Stinson for assignment.

PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Mariners 3