Bleday homers, Estes earns first win as A's beat Mariners 8-1

SEATTLE (AP) — Rookie starter Joey Estes struck out five in five solid innings after being called up earlier in the day for his first major league win, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 8-1 on Saturday night.

Abraham Toro and Brent Rooker hit run-scoring singles in the two-run third inning to put Oakland up 2-1. Max Schuemann added a three-run double in the eighth and JJ Bleday had a two-run homer in the ninth as Oakland snapped a two-game losing streak. The A’s had lost five of six following a six-game winning streak.

Estes took a liner off his right bicep from Julio Rodríguez in the first inning, but gathered the ball for the throw to first and waved off the trainer as he retook the mound.

“You knew he was locked in when Julio’s line drive went off his biceps and I didn’t realize it,” A's manager Mark Kotsay said. “That kid, I don’t know how to describe him really. You take a line drive like that off the biceps, and don’t have the trainers come out, don’t want it recognized. He came in the dugout and we finally got to him and it was already swollen.”

Cal Raleigh hit his 10th home run, a solo shot in the second inning to put Seattle up 1-0. But Estes settled down and it was all Athletics after that.

A’s starters had allowed 55 runs over the previous six games, including an 8-1 loss to the Mariners on Friday night, before Estes (1-0) was called up to replace fifth starter Joe Boyle (lower back injury). He gave up two hits and walked none on 61 pitches.

“That’s awesome,” Estes said after some hazing in the shower room. “I've worked my whole life to be able to say I got a win, so it’s definitely something I’m going to cherish.”

Bryce Miller (3-3) struck out nine, allowing five hits, but started the costly third inning with one of his two walks, to Lawrence Butler. The speedy right fielder moved to second on Brett Harris’ single and scored on Toro’s single to right field. Rooker’s hit to shallow right scored Harris for the 2-1 lead.

The Mariners had beaten the A’s in 13 of their last 14 dating to the start of the 2023 season. They’ve lost three of their last four and four of six. Seattle had been 12-1 in Miller’s last 13 quality starts.

Relievers Mitch Spence, Austin Adams, Lucas Erceg and Michael Kelly combined to give up one hit over the final four innings. Seattle had just three hits and left just one runner on base.

“Coming into the series, Oakland is much improved,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “They have a different ball club. They tightened up their bullpen and they’ve got guys who can put the ball in play.”

SCHUEMANN'S REVENGE

The Mariners intentionally walked Shea Langeliers to get to Schuemann in the eighth, loading the bases for the shortstop.

“I was a little upset obviously,” Schuemann said. “I took it as, like, a motivational thing. My first swing, I took as big a hack as I could, you know? And then I was like, 'All right, I need to settle down.”

He then sent the ball into the left-field corner to put the game out of reach.

RALEIGH’S BIG BAT

Raleigh is the first AL catcher to hit 10 or more homers in his team’s first 40 games since the Yankees' Jorge Posada in 2003. Three NL catchers have accomplished the feat over the same span.

ROSTER MOVE

The A’s optioned LHP Easton Lucas to Triple-A Las Vegas when they recalled Estes for the start.

UP NEXT

Athletics: LHP Alex Wood (1-2, 5.30) closes out the series. He is 1-0 with a 1.72 ERA in his last three starts.

Mariners: RHP Luis Castillo (3-5, 3.54) is first in the AL and fourth in the majors with 56 strikeouts.

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Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh (29) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run as Oakland Athletics second baseman Max Schuemann, back left, looks on during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh, center, celebrates in the dugout after hitting solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Oakland Athletics' Abraham Toro watches his RBI single next to Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Oakland Athletics' Lawrence Butler (4) scores on a hit by Abraham Toro, next to Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Oakland Athletics' Brent Rooker (25) follows through on an RBI single next to Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Mariners' Josh Rojas reacts after fouling a ball off, next to Oakland Athletics catcher Kyle McCann during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Oakland Athletics second baseman Abraham Toro (31) goes to tag Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez on a steal attmpt during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Seattle. Rodríguez was tagged out after coming off the bag. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

CHICAGO (AP) — Lukas Reichel made his season debut for the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night after he was a healthy scratch for the team's opening four-game trip.

Reichel skated for 8 1/2 minutes during Chicago's 4-2 victory over San Jose in its home opener. He centered the team's fourth line in his 100th career game, playing alongside veteran forwards Pat Maroon and Craig Smith.

Coach Luke Richardson said he thought Reichel made some good plays.

“I thought he was, you know, hard in the face-off circle," Richardson said. "He blocked a shot in the third period, and he was really showing initiative to take hard strides out there, whether it was tracking back, which helps our (defense), or on the offense and on the forecheck. So it was a good start for him.”

Chicago also placed Alec Martinez on injured reserve before its victory over the Sharks. Fellow defenseman Isaak Phillips was recalled from Rockford of the AHL.

The 37-year-old Martinez, who skated in each of the team's first four games, has a right groin injury. He agreed to a $4 million, one-year contract with the Blackhawks in free agency.

“I think a groin strain is what they listed it as,” Richardson said. “It’s been kind of nagging for a while, and then last game, just kind of reaggravated it a bit. So we have to just give him time.”

Richardson had no update on goaltender Laurent Brossoit and defenseman Artyom Levshunov. Brossoit had meniscus surgery on his right knee on Aug. 27. Levshunov, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's NHL draft, is coming back from a right foot injury.

“Both of them are just not ready to join the team in practice yet, but have been on the ice,” Richardson said, “and will be back on the ice after a day or two off. I think they've been going pretty hard, and that's all I know there.”

The 22-year-old Reichel was a first-round pick in the 2020 entry draft, but he has struggled with inconsistency since his NHL debut almost three years ago. He re-signed with the Blackhawks in May, finalizing a two-year contract.

If Reichel's lackluster production continues this season and Chicago decides it wants to send him back to the minors, it would have to expose him to waivers.

It looked as if Reichel had turned a corner when he had four goals and four assists in his last eight games with Chicago during the 2022-23 season. He appeared in a career-high 65 games last year, but he only managed five goals and 11 assists.

Reichel said it was tough sitting out at the beginning of this season.

“You know you want to play every game, but what I learned from last year, you got to stay positive,” he said after the team's morning skate. “Everyone knows that I want to go out there and compete and play with the boys, but all you can do in that moment, you just got to focus (on) what you can control.”

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Chicago Blackhawks left wing Lukas Reichel skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Lukas Reichel skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Lukas Reichel walks the red carpet before the Blackhawks' home opener NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Lukas Reichel warms up before an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)