A's Loss To Mariners Gives Red Sox Home-Field Edge Through Playoffs
SEATTLE (AP) — The Red Sox clinched home-field advantage through the playoffs when Oakland lost, 7-5, to the Mariners on Saturday.
The AL West champion A's will play their playoff opener at home next Friday against AL Central champion Detroit, and AL East winner Boston will start the playoffs at Fenway Park against the team emerging from the wild-card playoff: Cleveland, Tampa Bay or Texas.
Seattle infielder Brad Miller came up with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth inning Saturday and drove Jarrod Parker's 2-1 pitch high down the right-field line. The ball stayed fair for the rookie's first grand slam.
"It kept curving, but I was hoping," Miller said. "That felt good."
The slam was the second of two home runs Miller hit against Oakland, and it gave Seattle a six-run lead. The Athletics mounted a comeback but the Mariners held on for a 7-5 win.
"I wasn't sure if that ball was going to stay fair, but I'm glad for us it did," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. "It was obviously big for us, especially the way they came back."
