leeing back to the US-based team willing to throw the most money his way.

SEATTLE -- Struggling Mike Zunino delivered the go-ahead home run in the seventh inning and Seattle held on for a 3-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night, keeping the Mariners on the edge of the AL wild card chase.Seattle is two games behind Baltimore and Toronto with three games to play. The Orioles defeated the Blue Jays 4-0 to pull even atop the wild card race. Detroit, which was rained out against Cleveland, is a half-game ahead of the Mariners.Zunino, hitting .139 over his last 25 games, opened the seventh with his 12th home run, sending a 2-2 pitch from Liam Hendriks (0-4) deep over the wall in left.Seattle added a run in the eighth on a two-out single by Leonys Martin, a walk to Zunino and Ketel Martes RBI single.Steve Cishek (4-6) came on to stifle an Oakland threat in the seventh with an inning-ending double play and added a perfect eighth. Rookie Edwin Diaz notched his 18th save, despite allowing a run and three hits in the ninth.The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on three consecutive singles before running themselves out of the inning. Kyle Seager reached on an infield single when Kendall Graveman couldnt find the handle on his two-out dribbler along the first-base line. Adam Lind followed with a single to center. Martin singled through the right side, scoring Seager from second. Martin continued for second, but was caught in a rundown. Lind was thrown out at home trying to score on the play.Chad Pinder brought Oakland even in the sixth with his first career home run, a leadoff shot to left for the only run off starter Ariel Miranda.Oakland had runners on first and third with one out in the seventh, but failed to score. Danny Valencia singled to open, but was forced at second on Brett Eibners fielders choice groundout to short. Yonder Alonso then singled Eibner to third. Cishek relieved and enticed pinch-hitter Max Muncy into a ending double play grounder.UP NEXT:As: RHP Raul Alcantara (1-2, 5.75 ERA) makes his fifth career start since being called up from Triple-A Nashville on Sept. 5. He faced Seattle on Sept. 11, giving up two runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings without a decision.Mariners: RHP Taijaun Walkers (7-11, 4.35 ERA) up-and-down season seems to be back on the upswing. Walker was 2-0 with 1.44 in four April starts, then went 0-5 in May and eventually was sent to Triple-A. Hes 3-1 in his last four starts. Lane Taylor Super Bowl Jersey . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Oren Burks Super Bowl Jersey . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Elgton-Jenkins-Packers-Jersey/ . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl Jersey . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Blake Martinez Super Bowl Jersey . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars.TORONTO - Heres a remarkable stat: In each of his last six starts, Josh Johnson has allowed multiple runs in the same inning he allows his first base runner of the game. The list and in parentheses the inning in question and runs allowed: June 28 at Boston (2nd, 2); July 3 vs. Detroit (2nd, 4); July 9 at Cleveland (4th, 2); July 14 vs. Baltimore (1st, 4); July 22 vs. Los Angeles (2nd, 4); July 27 vs. Houston (1st, 4). The Blue Jays havent won any of the six games and Johnson (1-7) has taken the loss in the last five. On Sunday, Houstons first four batters scored. Jonathan Villar singled, Jose Altuve did the same and so did Jason Castro, scoring Villar. Then Chris Carter came to the plate and made no mistake with Johnsons mistake, pounding a fastball into the batters eye in centrefield for a three-run home run. The Astros led before all of the more than 34,000 fans in attendance had taken their seats. "Definitely," said Johnson when asked if hes experiencing the most difficult period of his professional career. "Definitely. This game will definitely test you but like I said, just got to find a way, find a way to stay positive and get through it." "Hes scuffling, I mean thats an understatement," said manager John Gibbons. "Hes feeling it. Hes human. You know, you feel for the guy. Hes never struggled a whole lot in his career. Hes trying to settle in. Hes trying to contribute and it hasnt gone well for him. Its tough because theres really nowhere to hide out there but hes got to keep battling. Theres nothing else you can do." Nowhere to hide and so much time left in what already is a lost season. Gone is the chatter about Johnson being one-and-done with the Blue Jays, fleeing back to the US-based team willing to throw the most money his way. Instead, the belief is the Blue Jays will extend Johnson a qualifying offfer (in the $14-million range) in the off-season, one which he could accept to return for the 2014 season.dddddddddddd. The focus turns to salvaging the next two months. "Its been a battle," said pitching coach Pete Walker. "Definitely had a tough time commanding the fastball and breaking stuff on the outer part of the plate but hes a competitor, hes going to get back at it (on Sunday). Back to the drawing board a little with him." Johnson is trying to improve his line to the plate. His tendency, on occasion, is to fall slightly toward the first base side as hes completing his delivery. As a result, his fastball runs over the plate and his breaking stuff, instead of starting in the strike zone and tumbling, flattens out. One close observer says hed like to see Johnson try to back door his curveball to left-handed hitters – meaning paint the outside corner – instead of trying to come hard down and in with his slider. Johnsons mechanical inconsistencies arent new. Video from last season, when Johnson was a Marlin, provide evidence of occasions when he would come out of his delivery. As for Johnsons issues out of the stretch – remember the problems seem to begin once a runner reaches base – Walkers on it. "Were certainly aware of that and trying to rectify it and make better pitches from the stretch," said Walker. "Hes worked with his hands and lowered his hands. Hes not tipping pitches. We thought maybe that was an issue but thats not the case ... Its a battle right now and I know hes frustrated with the consistency but were certainly not giving up on him by any stretch." Fans shouldnt give up on Johnson, either, if for no other reason than hes unlikely to be going anywhere else anytime soon. Johnsons seventh try for his second win will come on Thursday night in Anaheim. ' ' '