SEATTLE (Interstat) — A methodical offensive attack and a lockdown performance from their bullpen propelled the Athletics to a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park, securing a series win and moving above .500 on the young season.

The Athletics, now 13-11, scored single runs in five different innings, amassing 13 hits while capitalizing on timely two-out hitting. The Mariners, falling to 10-15, managed eight hits but could not sustain a rally against an relief corps that delivered 3 2/3 perfect innings to close the game.

Oakland set the tone immediately against Seattle starter Luis Castillo. Leadoff hitter Nick Kurtz worked a walk, and after two strikeouts, Tyler Soderstrom laced an RBI double down the right-field line to give the A’s a 1-0 lead before many of the 19,092 in attendance had settled into their seats.

Seattle answered in the third against Athletics starter Jacob Lopez. Rob Refsnyder and Cal Raleigh singled, and Julio Rodríguez’s lineout advanced the runner. Josh Naylor then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Refsnyder to tie the game at 1-1.

The back-and-forth continued as reclaimed the lead in the fourth. With two outs and nobody on, veteran second baseman Jeff McNeil drove a Castillo offering over the wall in right-center for his first home run of the season, restoring the Athletics’ advantage at 2-1.

The Mariners’ power provided the equalizer in the fifth. Leading off the inning, designated hitter Cal Raleigh connected on Lopez’s first pitch, sending a solo shot to left-center for his fourth homer of the year, knotting the score at 2-2. It was the last significant offensive highlight for Seattle.

Oakland’s relentless response came in the sixth. Tyler Soderstrom led off with a double, his second of the game, and scored when shortstop Jacob Wilson followed with an RBI double down the left-field line, making it 3-2.

The Athletics added crucial insurance in the seventh. With two outs and nobody on, catcher Shea Langeliers launched a solo home run deep to center field off reliever Gabe Speier, extending the lead to 4-2.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the top of the ninth, effectively sealing the outcome. Facing Mariners reliever Cole Wilcox, the A’s loaded the bases with no outs on a single by Kurtz, a single by Langeliers, and a sacrifice bunt by Carlos Cortes. Wilcox then intentionally walked Soderstrom to set up a force at any base. Jacob Wilson, however, foiled the strategy by lining a sharp single into center field, scoring Kurtz. The rally was limited to just that one run as Wilcox struck out McNeil and Max Muncy to leave the bases loaded, but the damage was done, pushing the score to 5-2.

That run proved more than enough as Athletics closer Jack Perkins took over for the bottom of the ninth. Perkins was dominant, needing just 12 pitches to strike out Cole Young and Luke Raley around a sharp flyout by pinch-hitter Dominic Canzone. Perkins earned his first save of the season with two perfect innings of relief, featuring two strikeouts.

The victory was anchored by Oakland’s bullpen triumvirate. After Lopez departed with one out in the sixth, having allowed two runs on seven hits, Scott Barlow entered and stranded a runner, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Hogan Harris recorded the final out of the seventh before Perkins finished the game with his flawless performance.

Lopez (2-1) earned the win despite a somewhat laboring outing. Castillo, who fell to 0-1, was charged with the loss after giving up two runs on five hits over five innings, walking one and striking out six.

Offensively, the Athletics saw multi-hit games from Soderstrom (2-for-4, RBI, two runs), Wilson (2-for-5, two RBI), Langeliers (2-for-4, HR, RBI), McNeil (2-for-5, HR, RBI), and Muncy (2-for-5). For the Mariners, Raleigh led the way, going 2-for-3 with the solo homer, a walk, and two runs scored.

The most important part of the game was the collective effort of the Athletics’ bullpen, specifically the seamless transition from Barlow to Harris to Perkins. With the game hanging in the balance at 4-2 in the late innings, they completely stifled any potential Mariners comeback. Barlow expertly navigated the heart of Seattle’s order in the seventh, stranding two runners. Perkins then delivered the exclamation point, a commanding and efficient two-inning save that demoralized the Mariners’ lineup and cemented a victory built on persistent offense and pitching precision.

The Athletics will go for the series sweep on Wednesday afternoon, while the Mariners will look to salvage the final game before embarking on a lengthy road trip.