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In Seattle today, at T-Mobile Park, the Mariners completed a statement sweep of the Oakland Athletics, 10–3, to claim the Wild Card Series. From the very first pitch, it was evident that Seattle was in command — both on the mound and at the plate.
Alex Ojeda was the story of the day, driving in four runs including a key bases-loaded homer in the eighth inning, earning him Player of the Game honors. Reynaldo Fuentes continued his stellar postseason form, hitting .429 for the series with a home run, four RBIs, and four runs scored, a performance that underscores why the Mariners are seen as legitimate contenders in this year’s playoffs.
On the mound, Xavier Carter was masterful, holding Oakland to two runs over six innings, striking out seven, and setting the tone for the bullpen, where Matthew Calabaa closed with two scoreless innings. For the Athletics, it was a game emblematic of the struggles they faced all series long, as starter Enrique Cruz could not find the zone and ultimately allowed six runs over four innings.
Seattle now advances to the Division Series, where they will face a rested Cleveland club who has won the past two World Series. The Mariners’ combination of power, timely hitting, and pitching depth will be put to the test, but after the way they handled Oakland, there is a confidence and swagger in this clubhouse that cannot be overstated.
In the grand sweep of postseason history, it is moments like these — when a team not only wins, but wins convincingly — that set the tone for October. And for Seattle, today was as emphatic a statement as one could make in early October baseball.
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