After leading Seattle to a 6-4 win over the A’s on Thursday, Mariners pitcher Bryan Woo couldn’t hide his emotions over what’s happening to the team that plays 10 minutes away from where he grew up in Alameda.
Woo, who struck out six and didn’t walk a batter over five innings to improve to 7-2, had a hard time pondering how he will be the pitcher of record for Seattle’s final win at the Oakland Coliseum, where he has so many special memories of attending games during his youth.
“That’s pretty crazy, honestly,” Woo said. “Obviously I’ve come to more games here than anywhere else in the world, anywhere else in my life. I can’t even wrap my mind around that right now. It’s sad, it’s crazy, it’s a lot of emotions. It’s wild.”
Woo’s appearance Thursday also had another historic twist to it – he will be the last of the 126 players in MLB history who were born in Oakland to play a game in the Oakland Coliseum. Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs is the only other current active major leaguer who was born in Oakland.
The right-handed Woo has victories in his last two decisions, against the A’s and San Francisco. He allowed two runs on eight hits and has five or more strikeouts in six of his last seven outings.
Woo and the Mariners prevailed as Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer in the first inning and added a sacrifice fly in the fifth, while Julio Rodríguez also connected in their final scheduled visit to the Coliseum.
Oakland’s Seth Brown hit a sacrifice fly in the third and Brent Rooker homered twice to boost his career-high total to 35. He hit his 34th homer in the fifth then No. 35 in the ninth for the A’s, who have cleared the fences 22 times in their last 10 games and have 181 home runs overall.
“Similar to last year, my homers always tend to come in bunches,” Rooker said. “That’s been a constant throughout my entire career. What I’ve done a better job of this year is in between those spurts of slugging, I’ve done a good job of being able to piece base hits together and take some walks.”
A’s starter Joey Estes (6-7), who has lost three of his last four decisions, allowed four runs on six hits over four innings before manager Mark Kotsay turned to his bullpen.
Seattle’s Luke Raley added a two-run shot in the ninth for key insurance as the Mariners closed within 4 1/2 games of the Houston Astros in the American League West standings.
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