Former Mariner manager Bob Melvin has the Athletics in the thick of the AL Wild Card race. His A's also defeated Seattle in the season series. and can sweep the Mariners with a victory Sunday. / Wiki Commons

GAME: Mariners (73-85, 4th, AL West, – 19.5 GB) at Athletics (90-68, 2nd, AL West, – 2.5 GB). GAME #: 159. SERIES: 3rd of 3 games. MEETING: 19th (Athletics lead 11-7). WHEN: Sunday, 1:07 p.m., Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA. PROBABLE PITCHERS: RHP Erasmo Ramirez (Seattle, 1-3, 3.42) vs. LHP Tommy Milone (Oakland, 13-10, 3.74). STREAKS: Mariners L 2; Athletics W 2. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: 770-AM, Mariners Radio Network

The Mariners entered their weekend series with an opportunity to spoil Oakland’s playoff plans, but got beat both Friday and Saturday due to a combination of lousy pitching and uncharacteristically bad defense. Blake Beavan couldn’t keep the ball down Friday and the A’s made him pay with home runs, and the Seattle bullpen imploded Saturday after a fine start by Jason Vargas, squandering a 4-1 lead and losing 7-4.

The Mariners, who also made two errors Friday, giving them 12 in a 14-game span, finish off their season series with the Athletics Sunday afternoon. At the start of the campaign, the widespread belief was that Seattle and Oakland would spend the season battling for third place in the AL West.

Instead, the Athletics are second in the division and still in Wild Card contention. The Mariners have effectively been out of the running for anything since the All-Star break.

For their last road game of the season, the Mariners will send Erasmo Ramirez to the mound to face Tommy Milone. A closer look at the probables:

MARINERS: RHP Erasmo Ramirez (1-3, 3.42 ERA, 0.98 WHIP)

Erasmo Ramirez

The 22-year-old Ramirez, in his first major league season, will make his eighth start, his fifth since his recall from AAA Tacoma, and his second against the Athletics. Ramirez, who has had a pair of relief appearances since his recall, lost to the A’s 1-0 June 25, took a no-decision in an inning of relief Sept.7, and is coming off a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels Sept. 25. He has lost three of his past four decisions.

A native of Rivas, Nicaragua, the 5-11, 205-pound Ramirez came to the Mariners in 2007 as an amateur free agent. He began his professional career in 2008 with the Mariners entry in the Venezuelan summer league. He also pitched for the club in 2009, posting an 11-1 record.

That earned him a promotion to Class A Clinton of the Midwest League in 2010, when he went 10-4. Ramirez pitched for AA Jackson and AAA Tacoma in 2011. He went a combined 10-8.

Ramirez made his major league debut April 9, working in relief of Hector Noesi in an 11-9 Texas win over Seattle at Rangers Ballpark. He pitched 3.0 innings and allowed one run on two hits and surrendered a home run. He did not factor in the decision.

After allowing earned runs in each of his first three appearances, he did not allow any in his last four. The Mariners had seen enough to send him down to Tacoma in order to build him back into a starter. When the Mariners had seen enough of Blake Beavan’s troubles, they farmed him out and recalled Ramirez June 12.

During Ramirez’s June 30 start against Boston, Ramirez suffered a right flexor elbow strain and had to come out of the game. The Mariners subsequently placed him on the 15-day disabled list. When he was healthy enough to pitch, he was sent to Tacoma. In 15 starts for the Rainiers, Ramirez went 6-3, 3.72. Ramirez worked one inning of relief against Oakland Sept. 7.

• LAST START: Sept. 25 at Angels Stadium, lost 5-4; three earned runs on seven hits in 6.0 innings; three strikeouts, no walks, two home runs; 94 pitches, 64 for strikes.
• LAST VS. ATHLETICS: Sept. 7 at Seattle, took a no decision in 1.0 innings of relief.
• CAREER VS. ATHLETICS: 0-1, 1.00 ERA in two games, including one start, covering 9.0 innings; 12 strikeouts to one walk; 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings; no home runs.
• AT OAKLAND COLISEUM: Never pitched.
• LOVES TO FACE: Yoenis Cespedes (0-for-4, .000 BA), Coco Crisp (0-for-3, .000 BA), Jemile Weeks (0-for-3, .000 BA).
• HATES TO FACE: Brandon Inge (1-for-3, .333 BA), Seth Smith (1-for-3, .33 BA).
• CURRENT ATHLETICS VS. RAMIREZ: 3-for-25, .120 BA, one home run, 12 strikeouts.

Ramirez / 2012

• June 14 (L, 0-1): Vs. San Diego at Safeco Field, lost 6-2; allowed five earned runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings; struck out three and walked one; threw 93 pitches, 64 for strikes.
• June 19 (ND, 0-1): In Phoenix, took a no-decision in 12-9 win; allowed four earned runs on five hits over 4.0 innings; struck out five and walked one; two home runs.
• June 25 (L, 0-2): vs. Oakland at Safeco Field, lost 1-0; allowed one earned run on three hits over 8.0 innings and struck out a career-high 10.
• June 30 (ND, 0-2): vs. Boston, took a no-decision in Seattle’s 3-2 victory; no runs, no hits in 2.2 innings; two strikeouts, no walks; 41 pitches, 24 for strikes.
• Sept. 7: (ND, 0-2): vs. Oakland, pitching in relief, worked one inning and did not allow a hit in a 6-1 loss.
• Sept. 11: (W, 1-2): Defeated Toronto 4-3; two earned runs on six hits over 7.0 innings; six strikeouts to one walk; 98 pitches, 66 for strikes.
• Sept. 18 (ND, 1-2): vs. Baltimore, took a no-decision in Seattle 4-2 loss; two earned runs on four hits in 8.0 innings; six strikeouts, no walks, no home runs; 98 pitches, 64 for strikes.
• Sept. 25 (L, 1-3): At Angels Stadium, lost 5-4; three earned runs on seven hits in 6.0 innings; three strikeouts, no walks, two home runs; 94 pitches, 64 for strikes.

ATHLETICS: LHP Tommy Milone (13-10, 3.74 ERA, 1.26 WHIP)

Tommy Milone

The 25-year-old Milone, in his third major league season and first with the Athletics, will make his 31st start and fifth against the Mariners. Milone lost 4-0 April 13, defeated Seattle 1-0 June 25, had a no-decision July 6 and defeated Seattle 4-2 Sept. 9. Milone is coming off a no-decision against the Texas Rangers Sept. 25.

A native of Sagus, CA., the 6-0, 205-pound Milone pitched for the University of Southern California, finishing his career with 45 starts, placing him ninth on USC’s all-time list in a tie with Sid Akins (1982-84). Milone went 16-17 in his USC career, allowing only 60 walks in 273.0 career innings. He earned All-Pac-10 honorable mention. Led the team in innings (97.1), complete games (2) and strikeouts (98). Opponents hit just .251 against him as he allowed only four home runs.

The Washington Nationals selected Milone in the 10th round of the 2008 amateur draft.  Milone began his pro career with Class A Vermont in the New York-Penn League in 2008. He pitched for A Hagerstown (2008, Sally League), Potomac (2009, Carolina League), AA Harrisburg (2010, Eastern League) and AAA Syracuse (2011, International League).

Milone made his debut with the Nationals Sept. 3, 2011, working 4.1 innings as Washington’s starter in what became an 8-7 victory over the New York Mets. Milone, who allowed four runs on six hits, received a no-decision.

Milone appeared in five games (1-0, 3.81 ERA). On Dec. 23, 2011, the Nationals traded Milone, along with A.J. Cole (minors), Derek Norris (minors) and Brad Peacock, to the Athletics for Robert Gilliam (minors) and Gio Gonzalez.

Milone made his Oakland debut April 9, and secured a spot in the team’s rotation after defeating the Kansas City Royals 1-0.

• 2012: Milone has pitched into the seventh inning in 14 of his starts. He has allowed two or fewer runs 17 times. He had his worst outing June 13 at Colorado, allowing eight earned runs in 4.0 innings. He has given up 24 home runs.
• LAST START: Sept. 25 at Rangers Ballpark, took a no-decision in Oakland’s 3-2 victory; two runs on six hits in 6.0 innings; three strikeouts, no walks, no home runs.
• LAST VS. MARINERS: Sept. 9 at Safeco Field, won 4-2; two earned runs on eight hits in 6.0 innings; 10 strikeouts, no walks, one home run.
• CAREER VS. MARINERS: 2-1, 2.42 ERA in four starts covering 26 innings; 29 strikeouts to three walks; two home runs; 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
• AT OAKLAND COLISEUM: 7-4, 2.68 ERA in 14 starts covering 94.0 innings; 60 strikeouts to 15 walks; 6.4 strikeouts per nine innings; six home runs.
• LOVES TO FACE: Justin Smoak (0-for-8), Dustin Ackley (1-for-8, .125 BA), Casper Wells (1-for-8, .125 BA).
• HATES TO FACE: Jesus Montero (5-for-9, .556 BA), Miguel Olivo (4-for-11, .364 BA), Michael Saunders (3-for-9, .333 BA).
• CURRENT MARINERS VS. MILONE: 24-for-90, .267 BA, two home runs, 28 strikeouts.

AL WEST STANDINGS

MARINERS / STATS NOTES

• CURRENT ROAD TRIP: Three at L.A. Angels (Tuesday-Thursday), three at Oakland (Friday-Sunday).
  
• MARINERS VS. ATHLETICS: Mariners 224-303 all-time vs. the Athletics, including 95-168 at Oakland Coliseum. Mariners last swept a three-game series at Oakland Sept. 17-19, 2007. Athletics last swept in Oakland Sept. 2-4, 2011.
  
• LOG: The Mariners lost their 11th game of the season Saturday via a walk-off hit when Brandon Moss parked a three-run shot off Steven Pryor in the 10th inning. It was second walk-off hit allowed by Pryor in a week . . . Tom Wilhelmsen’s blown save Saturday denied Jason Vargas what would have been a team-high 15 victories. Vargas pitched well enough to win, allowing one run on five hits over 7.0 innings. He fanned seven and didn’t walk a batter, but Wilhelmsen allowed a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth that tied the score . . . With home runs from Kyle Seager and Justin Smoak Saturday (19th home run of the season for each), the Mariners have now homered in 18 straight games, the second-longest streak in franchise history and one shy of the club record of 19, set in 1999 . . . The Mariners have hit 146 home runs this season after hitting 101 two years ago and 109 last season . . . In the first two games of the current series, the Mariners have gone 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position . . . Franklin Gutierrez returned to the lineup after sitting out a game with a stiff neck . . . The season finale next Wednesday, originally scheduled for 7:10 p.m., will start at 3:40 p.m.
• SEASON SUMMARY: Series Record: Won 22, Split 2, Lost 28 . . . Sweeps: 6; Swept: 7 . . . Longest Win Streak: 8 (Aug. 15-21); Longest Losing Streak: 7 (April 28-May 4) . . . vs. AL East: 18-28; vs. AL Central: 24-16; vs. AL West: 22-31; vs. LAA: 6-10; vs. Oak: 7-11; vs. Tex: 9-10; vs. NL West: 8-10; vs. Interleague: 8-10 . . . Biggest Lead: 1.0, April 7; Farthest Behind: 19.5, Sept. 29 . . . Most Runs Scored: 21, May 30 at Texas (21-8); Most Runs Allowed: 11, April 9 at Texas . . . Walk-Off Wins: 6, May 7, first since Sept. 14, 2011 vs. New York, and first via a sacrifice fly (John Jaso) since Sept. 14, 2007 vs. Tampa Bay (Jose Guillen); June 17 vs. San Francisco (Justin Smoak ninth-inning single); June 28 vs. Boston (Jaso ph ninth-inning single); June 30 vs. Boston (Chone Figgins sacrifice fly 11th inning); Aug. 14, vs. Tampa, Eric Thames ninth-inning single scored Figgins; Aug. 18 vs. Minnesota, John Jaso sacrifice fly in ninth inning . . . Walk-Off Losses: 11, April 30 at Tampa Bay, Elliott Johnson, RBI single in 12th off Brandon League; May 17, at Cleveland, Carlos Santana bases-loaded single off League in 11th; July 6, at Oakland, Chris Carter 3-run walk-off homer off Steve Delabar; July 7, at Oakland, Josh Reddick run-scoring double off Oliver Perez in 13th; July 18, at Kansas City, Billy Butler, home run off Josh Kinney in bottom 9th; July 20, at Tampa Bay, Ben Zobrist double off Tom Wilhelmsen in bottom 14th; Aug. 7, Adam Jones 14th-inning single off Shawn Kelley in bottom 14th; Aug. 10, Josh Kinney wild pitched in the winning run (Bourjos) with the bases loaded in the ninth inning at Anaheim; Aug. 24, Paul Konerko double in ninth off Wilhelmsen; Sept. 24, Torii Hunter single in ninth of Steven Pryor; Sept. 30, Brandon Moss, Oakland, 3-run homer off Steven Pryror . . . Times Opponent Shut out: 10; Times Shut out by Opponent: 12; Comeback Wins: 21; Largest Comeback: 3; Blown Leads: 34; Largest Comeback: 3.
• BATTING: Mariners rank 14th (AL) in runs (595), 14th in hits (1245), 13th in doubles (228), eighth in triples (26) and 11th in home runs (146 ) . . . Rank 14th in batting average (.233) . . . 14th in on-base percentage (.294), 14th in slugging (.367) and 14th in OPS (.661) . . . Batting 272-for-1160 (.234) with runners in scoring position after going 0-for-7 Saturday . . . Batting Average: John Jaso, .276; Hits: Kyle Seager, 149; Runs: Dustin Ackley, 83; Home Runs: Justin Smoak, Michael Saunders, 19; RBIs: Kyle Seager, 83 . . Batted around seven times: April 7 at Oakland (4th inning), April 9 at Texas (1st), April 17 vs. Cleveland (4th), May 29 at Texas (8th), May 30 at Texas (2nd and 3rd), Aug. 24 at Chicago (9th).
• BATTING EXTRA: Longest Hitting Streak: Dustin Ackley, 13 games, May 3-17 . . . Four-Hit Games: Ichiro, March 28 vs. Oakland; Justin Smoak, April 17 vs. Cleveland; Jesus Montero, May 1 at Tampa; Kyle Seager, May 30 at Texas; Michael Saunders, June 2, at Chicago; Ichiro, June 19 at Arizona; Franklin Gutierrez, June 22 at San Diego . . . Grand Slams (2): Michael Saunders, April 27 at Toronto; Alex Liddi, May 23 vs. Texas . . . Back-To-Back Home Runs (3): Jesus Montero, Justin Smoak, 3rd inning, May 20, at Colorado; Miguel Olivo, Dustin Ackley, 8th inning, July 2, vs. Baltimore; Franklin Gutierrez, Kyle Seager, 3rd inning, Sept. 4, vs. Boston.
• PITCHING: Mariners third in ERA (3.77), third in hits allowed (1320), third in runs allowed (637), fifth in home runs allowed (164), fourth in walks (437) and ninth in strikeouts (1135) . . . Games: Tom Wilhelmsen, 72; Starts: Jason Vargas, Felix Hernandez, 32; Wins: Vargas, 14; ERA: Hernandez 2.86; Complete Games: Hernandez 5 . . . Shutouts: Hernandez 5; Saves: Wilhelmsen, 29.
• DEBUTS: Munenori Kawasaki (April 7), Lucas Luetge (April 7), Erasmo Ramirez (April 9), Hisashi Iwakuma (April 20), Stephen Pryor (June 2), Carter Capps (Aug. 3), Luis Jimenez (Sept. 5), Carlos Triunfel (Sept. 7).
  
• DISABLED LIST: George Sherrill (60-day, April 13, strained flexor bundle).
• EX-MARINERS VS. CURRENT MARINERS: April 19, Jack Hannahan, Indians, 2-run single in ninth off Brandon League in Tribe’s 2-1 win; April 28, Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays, one earned run over 7.0 innings in 7-0 win; May 11, Raul Ibanez, Yankees, 3-run homer off Felix Hernandez in 6-2 win; May 12, Raul Ibanez, Yankees, solo homer off Hector Noesi in 6-2 win; May 15, David Ortiz, Red Sox, solo homer off Blake Beaven in 5-0 Red Sox win; May 16, Shin-Soo Choo (3), Asdrubal Cabrera (2) and Jose Lopez (1) combined for 6 hits in 9-3 Cleveland win; May 17, Casey Kotchman (2), Cabrera (2), Jose Lopez (1), Choo (1) had six of Cleveland’s 10 hits, plus 5 RBIs, in a 6-5 win; July 4, Chris Tillman recorded first win of the year in a 4-2 Baltimore win by allowing two runs over 8.1 innings; July 13, Adrian Beltre two-run HR off Kevin Millwood in a 3-2 Texas win at Safeco Field; July 15, Beltre had three hits and two RBIs in a 4-0 Texas win over Seattle at Safeco Field; July 23, Four ex-Mariners played roles in beating the Mariners 4-1: Ichiro, traded 3 1/2 hours before the opening pitch, singled and stole his 16th base; Alex Rodriguez belted his 40th career home run at Safeco Field; Raul Ibanez had an RBI single; Rafael Soriano notched the save; July 26, Soriano notched his 26th save in New York’s 5-2 win over the Mariners at Safeco Field; Aug. 5, Raul Ibanez clubbed a three-run homer, Freddy Garcia won his 150th career game and Ichiro extended his hitting streak to 12 games as the Yankees defeated the Mariners 6-2; Aug. 6, Chris Tillman took a three-hit shutout into the eighth and defeated the Mariners 3-1 at Camden Yards; Aug. 7, Adam Jones walk-off single against Shawn Kelley in the bottom of the 14th gave Baltimore an 8-7 win over Seattle; Sept. 17, Chris Tillman beat the Mariners for the fourth time in 2012 and Adam Jones scored four runs in Baltimore’s 10-4 victory; Sept. 19, Adam Jones game-winning home run in the 11th gave Baltimore a 3-1 win.

2012 RECORDS / MILESTONES

• April 24: Catcher Miguel Olivo matched the franchise record when he was charged with three passed balls in a 7-4 win at Detroit. Jerry Narron let three balls get by him Oct. 4, 1980, and Jeff Clement did likewise Aug. 10, 2008 (Clement was catching knuckleballer R.A. Dickey).
• April 27: Michael Saunders joined Donnie Scott (April 29, 1985) and Jimmy Presley (April 8, 1986) as the only Mariners to hit two home runs in a game in the ninth inning or later (solo homer in the 9th, grand slam in the 10th).
• April 30: When both Miguel Olivo and Jesus Montero homered, it marked the first time in franchise history that two players had homered in the same game as a catcher.
• May 2: Ichiro set a club record for most putouts by a right fielder in a nine-inning game, registering 10 in a 5-4 loss at Tampa.
• May 3: The Mariners featured a lineup at Tampa Bay that included seven left- handed hitters and two switch-hitters. It marked only the third time in club history that the Mariners used an all left-sided lineup. Others: Aug. 13, 1983 at California and Aug. 9, 1983 at Oakland.
• May 5: Combined one-hitter by Felix Hernandez and Steve Delabar vs. Minnesota was the 13th in Mariners history. Ten have been thrown by one pitcher, three combined. Most recent combined: Michael Pineda, Jeff Gray and Brandon League vs. Tampa, July 30, 2011. Most recent by one pitcher: Jarrod Washburn, July 6, 2009.
• May 9: When John Jaso batted leadoff against Detroit, it marked the first time since 1978 that a catcher had hit first for the Marines (Bob Stinson). Oddly, lefty Jaso led off against Tiger lefty Drew Smyly.
• May 8: Kevin Millwood’s 2-0 shutout marked his first in nearly nine years. He did not surrender his first hit until there were two outs in the sixth. Millwood’s gem marked only the fourth time in 1,440 games at Coors Field that an opposing pitcher held the Rockies to two hits or less while shutting them out. Millwood’s complete game also was the first by a Mariner in 2012.
• May 27: The pinch-hit grand slam allowed by Felix Hernandez to Alberto Callaspo marked just the sixth against the Mariners in 35 years, and the first since May 6, 1988 when Pat Sheridan of Detroit hit one off Mike Jackson.
• May 30: Mariners defeated Texas 21-8, just the third time in franchise history they have scored 20 or more runs in a game. The Mariners, with 20 hits, became the first team since 1880 to score 20 runs in a game in the same season it also go perfect-oed.
• June 8: Kevin Millwood and five relievers collaborated for the 10th combined no-hitter in major league history in a 1-0 win over the Dodgers at Safeco Field. Millwood (6.0), Charlie Furbush (0.2), Stephen Pryor (0.1), Lucas Luetge (0.1), Brandon League (0.2), and Tom Wilhelmsen (1.0) tied the MLB record for most pitchers used in a no-hitter (Houston vs. the Yankees June 11, 2003). It marked the third no-hitter in Mariners history.
• June 18: Aaron Hill of Arizona hit for the cycle in the Diamondbacks’ 7-1 win over the Mariners. Hill singled in the first (Hector Noesi), tripled in the third (Noesi), doubled in the fifth (Noesi) and homered in the seventh (Shawn Kelley).
• June 19: Ichiro reached 2,500 hits (first-inning single) in the fourth-fewest games in major league history during a 12-9 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. His 2,500th hit came in his 1,817th game. Al Simmons had 2,500 hits in 1,784 games, Ty Cobb in 1,790 and George Sisler in 1,808 . . . When Kyle Seager and Brendan Ryan both hit three-run homers in the fifth inning, it marked the first time since July 30, 2003 vs. Detroit that the Mariners had a pair of three-run bombs in the same inning. In that July 30, 2003 game, John Olerud hit a three-run homer and Randy Winn a grand slam in the first inning.
• July 1: One-time Mariner farmhand David Ortiz of the Red Sox hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th inning, giving Boston a 2-1 win over the Mariners.
• July 3: In Seattle’s 6-3 win over Baltimore at Safeco Field, The Mariners had three Japanese players in the starting lineup – Ichiro Suzuki, Munenori Kawasaki and Hisashi Iwakuma – for the first time in major league history.
• July 23: Mariners traded Ichiro, face of the franchise for 11 1/2 years, to the Yankees for two prospects and cash considerations. Ichiro made his debut against Seattle with the Yankees at Safeco field and went 1-for-4 with a stolen base.
• Aug. 15: Felix Hernandez threw the 23rd perfect game in major league history, defeating Tampa Bay 1-0 at Safeco Field. Hernandez recorded 12 strikeouts in throwing the third no-hitter in franchise history . . . Mariners became the first team in MLB history to throw a perfect game and have one thrown against them. It was also the first time two have been thrown in the same stadium in one season . . . Of the 22 previous perfect games, six were by 1-0 scores, the last by Roy Halladay May 29, 2010 at Florida. It was also the fourth 1-0 win for the Mariners this season . . .Hernandez became the second Latin American pitcher to do the deed (Nicaragua’s Dennis Martinez for Montreal July 28, 1991, against the Dodgers).
• Sept. 18: Seattle’s 18-inning, 4-2 loss to Baltimore at Safeco Field marked the second-longest home game in Mariners history and the longest — 5:44 — in terms of time since a 5:47 marathon at Texas in June 2004. The only longer game in terms of innings was a 19-inning affair against the Boston Red Sox Aug. 1, 2000.
• Sept 25: The Mariners whiffed an MLB record-tying 20 times in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The Mariners also struck out 20 times against the Boston Red Sox April 29, 1986,

MARINERS WON-LOSS BREAKDOWN

MARINERS BATTING PROFILE

MARINERS PITCHING PROFILE

PROBABLE PITCHERS

MARINERS 2012 SCHEDULE/RESULTS

March (1-1)

April (10-12)

May (12-17)

June (11-16)

July (15-11)

August (15-12)

September (9-16)

October