SEATTLE — Things are changing for the Seattle Mariners, both their roster as well as their results.
The Mariners, who lost a club-record 17 straight games in July, won for the fifth time in their last seven Wednesday, beating the Oakland Athletics 7-4 behind newly acquired Charlie Furbush.
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Furbush, the left-hander from South Portland who played at St. Joseph’s College, retired his first 13 batters in five strong innings and he was supported by stellar defense and a 14-hit offense.
He had a perfect game through 4 1/3 innings before Conor Jackson ended it with a fifth-inning double off the left-field wall that was inches away from being a home run and needed a video review.
Scott Sizemore drove Jackson home with a double.
Furbush matched his longest career outing and allowed one run and two hits with three strikeouts and no walks. It was his second career win, his first as a starter.
Mariners Manager Eric Wedge said Furbush was on a 65-pitch count. He threw 62.
“It’s tough to go five innings with that kind of pitch count,” Wedge said. “He was efficient. He used all of his pitches. He trusted his fastball. He trusted his stuff in general. He had good tempo. A lot of good things out there.”
It was just the third series sweep for the Mariners this season, the first since taking three from San Diego May 20-22. It also was their first sweep over Oakland since Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2009.
The Mariners put a lineup on the field that included six players who began the season in the minor leagues or with other teams. Veteran Jack Wilson made his first career start at third base. Mike Carp started at first base for the first time since early last season. Josh Bard made just his 14th start behind the plate.
Casper Wells started in left field for the fourth straight game since coming over from Detroit in a trade Saturday. He came along with Furbush (2-3), who was making his third career start, first for Seattle.
“It’s tough to come into a situation where you’re on different teams and no one has seen you play,” said Wells, who went 2 for 4 with two RBI.
“It seems like there’s some kind chemistry building within the team since I’ve been here. Everyone’s kind of feeding off each other.
“Guys are getting hits in there, it’s contagious. Pitchers are doing a great job. That’s when the wins come in.”
Bard had the biggest of the Mariners’ 14 hits, a two-run single in the fourth.
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