OAKLAND, Calif. -- Nelson Cruz homered for the second straight day, hitting a solo drive in the 10th inning that sent the Seattle Mariners over the Oakland Athletics 8-7.
Mariners ace Felix Hernandez left after five innings as a precaution because of tightness in his right quadriceps. Seattle took a 7-3 lead into the ninth before Oakland rallied to tie it against closer Fernando Rodney.
Cruz connected off new A's closer Tyler Clippard (0-1) for his second homer this season. Cruz led the majors with 40 home runs last year with Baltimore, then signed with the Mariners.
Rodney wound up with the win and Yoervis Medina finished for his first save in nearly two years.
The Mariners were held hitless by Jesse Hahn until Dustin Ackley doubled off the right field wall to begin the sixth. Seattle won despite getting outhit 14-7.
Sam Fuld hit a two-run double off Rodney and Oakland loaded the bases with no outs. After manager Lloyd McClendon went to the mound, Billy Butler grounded into a double play that brought home a run and pinch hitter Eric Sogard tied it with a single.
Pinch hitter Rickie Weeks hit a three-run homer in the seventh that put Seattle ahead 7-3.
Hernandez got a little help to stay unbeaten at the Oakland Coliseum over the last six years.
Former Gold Glove right fielder Josh Reddick, making his season debut off the disabled list, dropped a sharp liner for a two-run error that allowed the Mariners to tie it at 3 in the sixth.
Hernandez gave up three runs and eight hits in five innings. He is 6-0 at the Coliseum and has won four of his last six starts with a 2.87 ERA over 13 outings at the stadium since April 11, 2009.
Hahn, the 25-year-old righty acquired in a trade that sent All-Star catcher Derek Norris to the Padres, allowed only one earned run and three hits in 5 2-3 innings, struck out two and walked two.
After starting the first six games in the outfield, Ben Zobrist played second base for the A's.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners: Hernandez was checked on by athletic trainer Rick Griffin and McClendon in the fifth but he stayed in the game. ... OF Seth Smith played DH again as McClendon looks to keep him healthy following a groin injury.
Athletics: LHP Sean Doolittle, on the DL with a shoulder injury, threw from 90 feet for the third time and will move to 105 feet on Tuesday for three sessions. Then, it'll be 120 feet three times and after that likely progress to off the mound.
UP NEXT
Mariners: LHP James Paxton (0-1) tries again for his first win as the Mariners continue their road trip against the Angels.
Athletics: Lefty Scott Kazmir (1-0) pitches at Houston in the opener of a 10-game road trip after combining on a 10-0 shutout of Texas last Wednesday.
