Mariners 6, Athletics 5: Kyle Seager clubbed a two-run homer to back 7 2/3 strong innings from rookie James Paxton as visiting Seattle evened the three-game series by holding off a late rally.

Austin Jackson had two hits and two RBIs and Endy Chavez also drove in a pair of runs as the Mariners remained 1 1/2 games behind Detroit for the second wild card in the American League. Paxton (5-1) won his second straight start, limiting Oakland to two runs and four hits, and Fernando Rodney gave up two runs in the ninth before nailing down his 40th save.

Craig Gentry had a two-run double among his three hits and Brandon Moss and Sam Fuld delivered run-scoring doubles in the ninth for the Athletics, who squandered a chance to pick up ground on the first-place Los Angeles Angels and remained 4 1/2 back in the AL West. Sonny Gray (13-8) was pounded for six runs in five innings to fall to 1-5 over his last seven starts.

Paxton cruised into the eighth with a 6-0 lead and left after issuing a two-out walk to Josh Reddick, opening the door for Oakland to rally against Yoervis Medina. Adam Dunn delivered a pinch-hit RBI single before Gentry plated a pair with a ground-rule double to cut the deficit to 6-3.

Jackson staked Paxton to an early lead with a two-run single in the third and Chavez followed a double by Logan Morrison with one of his own in the fourth to bring home two more runs. Seager seemingly put the game out of reach in the fifh by crushing a high fastball from Gray into the seats in right to make it 6-0.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Seager extended his hitting streak to seven games and his 21st homer put him one shy of his career high set in 2013. ... Gray entered the contest with a 4-0 record and 1.10 ERA in five career starts against the Mariners and beat them three times this season, allowing two earned runs in 20 2/3 innings. ... Jackson, who has hit safely in 12 of 13 games, halted a nine-game RBI drought.