OAKLAND, Calif. -- Hisashi Iwakumas sore neck nearly prevented the Mariners pitcher from making his scheduled start and continued to bother him throughout the night.The Mariners gave their right-hander two big reasons to stick it out -- a pair of long home runs by Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz.Another stellar outing from Seattles bullpen helped, too.Iwakuma pitched into the sixth inning for his 14th win and the Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Saturday night for their seventh victory in eight games.I was OK to go today, but as the game progressed I started to feel stiffness, Iwakuma said through an interpreter. My body was starting to fly open. I wasnt as high as I wanted it to be. I kind of felt that throughout the third, fourth, fifth inning, but I was able to get out of jams.Iwakuma (14-7) allowed three runs on nine hits for his eighth win in the last nine starts. He struck out two and didnt walk a batter for the fifth time this season.Four Seattle relievers combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Edwin Diaz retired three batters for his sixth save.Our bullpen was outstanding, Mariners manager Scott Servais said. Very, very good and they needed to be tonight. We didnt have much room for error. Thats a good formula for a win.A day after squandering several scoring opportunities, the Mariners stranded two runners in the first and another in the third before breaking through.Cruz hit his 29th home run leading off the fourth inning. Seth Smith singled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the fifth and Cano hit the next pitch from Kendall Graveman (8-8) over the center-field wall for his 26th homer.We have guys that can hit line drives also but homers are good, too, Cruz said. Whatever way you can score runs, theyre welcome.Khris Davis homered for the second consecutive day while Coco Crisp and Billy Butler had three hits apiece for Oakland.Graveman allowed four runs over six innings and lost for the second time in his past 14 starts. He was pulled after 79 pitches.This year is a lengthy one for him so I dont think its a bad thing to cut it short, As manager Bob Melvin said, explaining his decision to pull Graveman. We had some good performances out of the bullpen. We had some guys rested come in.DAVIS MUSCLES UP AGAINDavis hit his 29th homer leading off the sixth, extending his career-high pace. Whats most impressive is that 16 of Davis home runs have come at the spacious Coliseum, normally considered a pitchers park.Hes making the Coliseum look like a hitters park, Oakland catcher Stephen Vogt said. Youre always making sure youre watching when hes at the plate.TRAINERS ROOMMariners: James Paxton threw a bullpen session and reported no pain six days after getting hit in his left elbow by a line drive. Paxton is on schedule to pitch Tuesday in Anaheim but a decision wont be made for certain until the team sees how he responds Sunday.Athletics: Former closer Sean Doolittle (left shoulder strain) will begin a rehab assignment and pitch one inning for Triple-A Nashville on Monday. The plan is for Doolittle to make two more appearances in the minors before potentially joining the As on their next homestand beginning Aug. 22. ... RHP Jesse Hahn (right shoulder strain) threw 30 pitches off the mound and could begin a rehab assignment soon. ... Josh Phegley (right knee strain) took batting practice before the game but has not done any catching.UP NEXTMariners: Wade LeBlanc (1-0) makes his seventh start in the series finale on Sunday. The lefty last started against Oakland on Sept. 23, 2014.Athletics: RHP Zach Neal (2-1) faces the Mariners for the second time this season. His only loss of the year came against Seattle on May 25 when he allowed seven runs in four innings. China Jerseys Reviews . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. China Jerseys .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. http://www.chinajerseyspaypal.com/ .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. China Jerseys Outlet .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. China Jerseys NFL Authentic . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59.Gareth Southgate says there is still high potential throughout the England squad despite the disappointing benchmark set in recent tournaments. The interim England boss will take charge of his final match in a four-game stint agreed after the departure of Sam Allardyce when Spain visit Wembley on Tuesday, but he remains the frontrunner to take the job on a permanent basis.Southgate accepts the group stage exit at the World Cup in 2014 and humiliating defeat to Iceland at the Euros this year show the nation is in no position to get ahead of itself but believes the players have the attitude and aptitude to achieve success. Iceland beat England at Euro 2016 Im not sure if Ive learned about myself because I was very aware of what I am, what Im capable of, what I do, he said of his temporary stint. Ive obviously learned about the role, Ive learned about the players and everything that surrounds the international set-up.I think part of coach development is knowing yourself anyway and then everyone else is a lot more comfortable. I think the insight has been into everything else that surrounds being in the position. Also its fascinating to see what is possible and achievable with this group of players. Six months half price Upgrade to Sky Sports to watch Man Utd v Arsenal on Saturday and get first six months half price Definitely there is high potential. I still think there is a long way to go. The last two tournaments are a benchmark of where were at so we cant keep talking about were good, were this, were that.We have to prove it and that means a lot of work ahead for whoever is in the position to take the team forward, but there is a real desire from the players to do that. I think theyre going to get big match experience with all their clubs that is going to aid that development. Highlights of Englands clash with Scotland at Wembley in their 2018 World Cup qualifier Title challenges and European football at club level is being complemented by tough international friendlies, with trips to Germany and France lined up before the season is out.First commes a home clash with 2010 World Cup winners, and two-time European champions, Spain - a country that until relatively recently had struggled to translate individual class into a successful team.dddddddddddd Jordan Henderson will captain England against Spain I think it is good to look at what successful teams do and what you might implement in your own competitive play, Southgate said.But I think what is more important at the moment for us is we have got several top teams playing in a certain way, a high-pressing, possession-based game.We cant be the same as Spain because their players have been brought up in a different way. But maybe we have more power, more pace, more strength and so we have to develop our style of play around what our better players are doing and what suits them. Southgate led England to a 3-0 win over Scotland Southgate manages everything like he is going to be there forever and believes the players approach things in a similar manner.I think as a team they want to build towards being successful in the World Cup and the European Championship, he said. If youre only looking at being successful in the next game and winning that, then I dont think you set the bar high enough. 17 year old Dylan Duncan trains with the England senior squad to make up the numbers for Gareth Southgate There has got to be constant improvement in the way that we play and the way that they work. Theyre intelligent players, they know that. Its important that youre always challenging players about what the ultimate aim is. Is it just about qualifying?Okay, fine, but if we dont start looking at improving now, then by the time we qualify we will only be two international camps away from the tournament.Upgrade to Sky Sports now to watch Man Utd v Arsenal this Saturday and get the first six months half price! Also See: Rooney out of England squad England should beat Spain Busquets relishing English test Henderson to captain England ' ' '
