SEATTLE, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- David Aardsma escaped a ninth-inning jam Wednesday, enabling the Seattle Mariners to complete a series sweep with a 5-3 win over Oakland.
Seattle's three straight wins over the Athletics have come on the heels of a stretch in which the Mariners had lost seven games in 10 outings.
Jose Lopez put Seattle in front for good with a two-run homer in the first and Bill Hall drove in two runs with a single in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
That gave Luke French (4-3) enough of a cushion to win his second straight start. French, obtained from Detroit at the trade deadline in the deal that sent Jarrod Washburn to the Tigers, allowed three runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Aardsma picked up his 30th save, but he gave up singles to Mark Ellis and Ryan Sweeney to open the ninth. The Seattle closer then struck out Tommy Everidge and pinch-hitter Nomar Garciaparra before getting Adam Kennedy to ground out to end the game.
The loss went to Gio Gonzalez (4-5), who was touched for four runs on seven hits in five innings.
