amloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. Comeback jockey Larry Cassidy is set to continue his run of

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Hisashi Iwakumas 15th win did much more than end his four-game losing streak that dated to mid-August.It also gave Seattle a much-needed lift to start its final West Coast road trip. More importantly, it helped keep the Mariners postseason hopes alive and inched manager Scott Servais team closer to the second AL wild card spot.Iwakuma pitched into the seventh inning to match his career high with the 15 wins, and the Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 3-2 on Friday night.We all fight and play to play in the playoffs, Iwakuma said through an interpreter. As a starter I only pitch one game every five days so being that day today you want to go out and give it all you got. I was able to do that tonight.Nori Aoki and Mike Zunino homered and Nelson Cruz added an RBI double to help the Mariners move within 3 1/2 games of Baltimore and Detroit for the second wild card spot in the AL.Iwakuma (15-11) allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings to snap a four-game losing streak and become the third Japanese-born pitcher to have multiple 15-win seasons. Iwakuma, who also had 15 wins in 2014, struck out five and walked one.From the first inning he had all of his pitches working, Servais said. We got off to a pretty quick start and we kind of faded offensively so we certainly needed the pitching tonight. Everybody stepped up. It was nice to see.Aoki homered leading off the third, Zunino in the seventh.Oaklands Bruce Maxwell had three hits including an RBI double while rookie Joey Wendle singled twice. The loss eliminates the As (60-80) from playoff contention, the earliest thats happened since 1997.Its also the third time this season that Oakland has lost to Iwakuma.Just when you feel like you have a beat on him . he makes big pitches when he has to, As manager Bob Melvin said. He hasnt been perfect against us. Hes (allowed) a couple of runs, they score more than that and he ends up winning.Robinson Cano drew a two-out walk in the first and scored on Cruzs double following a 13-pitch at-bat with As starter Daniel Mengden. Cruz fell behind 0-2, worked the count full and fouled off six consecutive pitches before doubling off the wall in right-center.Aoki hit his second home run of the season and first since May 28 on Mengdens first pitch in the third.Zunino homered off Daniel Coulombe leading off the seventh.The As scored in the fifth on Wendles RBI single then pulled within 3-2 when Maxwell doubled in Max Muncy in the seventh to chase Iwakuma.Dan Altavilla and Steve Cishek combined to retire four batters for Seattle. Edwin Diaz pitched the ninth for his 14th save.Mengden (1-7) got better as the game progressed but still lost and is winless since June 27. Mengden allowed two runs over five innings, walked two and struck out sixRARE COMPANYIwakuma joins Hideo Nomo and Daisuke Matsuzaka as the only Japanese-born pitchers with multiple 15-win seasons. Nomo won 16 games three times for the Los Angeles Dodgers while Matsuzaka won 15 in 2007 and 18 in 2008, both times with Boston. Overall I had good life on my fastball, Iwakuma said. I was able to locate both my fastball and my breaking pitches so I think that helped me a lot.INTO THE BOOKSZunino became the ninth Mariner to reach double digits in home runs this season, tying a club record. Seattle had done it four times previously, most recently in 2015.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: Francisco Rodriguez underwent shoulder surgery earlier Friday and will be sidelined for at least four months. Rodriguez had a 3.74 ERA in 34 games as a reliever for Oakland this season. ... LHP Sean Manaea, out since Aug. 29 with a back strain, will throw an extended bullpen Saturday before the team decides when hell start again.UP NEXTMariners: RHP Felix Hernandez (10-5) starts against the As on Saturday looking to continue his recent streak of strong outings since coming off the DL. Hernandez is 6-1 over his last 10 starts.Athletics: RHP Kendall Graveman (10-9) goes for Oakland seeking his first win in three starts against Seattle this season. Graveman has a 2.64 ERA at home that is the third-lowest in the AL. Cheap Swingman Nets Jerseys . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. Dzanan Musa Jersey . LOUIS -- St. http://www.cheapnetsjerseys.com/ . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. Cheap Nets Jerseys Authentic . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. Cheap Nets Jerseys China .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. Comeback jockey Larry Cassidy is set to continue his run of success with leading trainer Rob Heathcote on Kaiser Franz at Eagle Farm.Cassidy, a multiple premiership winning jockey in Sydney and Brisbane, missed more than a year of riding with knee problems.But he has been in fine form since returning in late August and has ridden 18 winners of which eight have been for Heathcote.His winners have come from just 33 rides for Heathcote and also include eight minor placings.Cassidy rode a double at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday including Storm Girl for Heathcote and a Slade Bloodstock syndicate.Things are going okay and the trainers have been very good to stick with me, Cassidy said.Kaiser Franz will tackkle the in-form Emerald City from the David Vandyke stable in the 2200m-open handicap.ddddddddddddThree of the geldings six wins have been at the 2200m and Heathcote has gradually been increasing Kaiser Franzs distance with each run this campaign.Heathcote gets an extra kick out of Kaiser Franz winning as he went to great lengths to buy the son of Cox Plate winner Savabeel.I liked him at the kiwi sales and missed seeing him go through the ring. So I had to get him privately, Heathcote said.Kaiser Franz has won nearly $200,000 prize money to more than repay his purchase price. ' ' '