Mariners 4, Athletics 2: Logan Morrison smacked a tiebreaking homer in the fifth inning as Seattle defeated visiting Oakland in the opener of a three-game series.

Robinson Cano and Kendrys Morales also went deep for the Mariners, who won for just the second time in five games. Seattle pulled into a tie with Kansas City for the American League’s second wild card and sits just a half-game behind the Athletics, who hold the first wild card despite losing 12 of their last 15 games.

James Paxton (6-2) struck out eight in six innings and gave up two runs (one earned) and four hits. Fernando Rodney allowed two singles to start the ninth before retiring three straight hitters to record his 45th save and tie Kazuhiro Sasaki (2001) for most in franchise history.

Cano hit an opposite-field homer to left off Jason Hammel (10-11) in the first inning and Mike Zunino smacked an RBI double in the second. Josh Donaldson’s run-scoring single in the third got Oakland on the board and Sam Fuld’s fourth-inning bunt scored Nate Freiman with the tying run.

Morrison socked a homer off Hammel in the fifth to give Seattle a 3-2 lead. Morales homered in the following inning off Athletics reliever Eric O’Flaherty.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Oakland LHP Sean Doolittle (intercostal strain) was activated from the disabled list. …. Seattle LF Dustin Ackley (ankle) returned from a four-game absence and went 0-for-3. … Hammel allowed three runs and four hits in five innings.