M's 7, Athletics 3

Saturday's Mariner game

......R...H...E
OAK...3...10..1
SEA...7...8...0

Box score

Game Story

As his young starter closed his case for a starting job on the day before the nightmare ended, catcher Kenji Johjima continued to make use of every second left in this season.

No Mariner finished 2008 better than Ryan Rowland-Smith, who pitched another quality start, his eighth straight, in a 7-3 victory over Oakland on Saturday and left little doubt in the Mariners' minds that he deserves a spot in the rotation next season.

But his veteran catcher has given the organization something to think about, too. Johjima's three-run homer finished off a six-run first inning for the Mariners, their best first inning in more than five years.

Ex-Rattlers for Seattle:
Raul Ibanez (Foxes, '94): 0-for-4, run
Wladimir Balentien ('04): 1-for-4, run, 2 RBI
Matt Tuiasosopo ('05): 0-for-3
Rob Johnson ('05): 0-for-3
Ryan Rowland-Smith ('03): 6-2/3IP, 9H, 3R, 2BB, 5K, Win (5-3)

Sunday's Mariner game:
OAK: Josh Outman (1-1)
SEA: RA Dickey (4-8)
3:10pm CDT