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Brown's HR sends A's over Mariners 3-2, 11 innings

  -- The Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Jack Cust and Kurt Suzuki hit solo homers in the ninth inning, and Emil Brown hit another solo shot in the 11th to help the Oakland Athletics rally for a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.

Brown's first career game-winning home run also gave Caesar Jimenez (0-1) his first career decision, after Huston Street (2-2) pitched two scoreless innings for the Athletics.

Cust led off the ninth with his 17th home run, and second in as many games, off Brandon Morrow. The Mariners' new closer came back to strike out Brown and Carlos Gonzalez, but Suzuki hit his first career pinch-hit homer on a 1-0 delivery to send the game to extra innings.

It was Morrow's first career blown save and spoiled a stellar performance by R.A. Dickey, who gave up four hits over seven scoreless innings.

A's starter Greg Smith allowed four hits over six innings, but his offense failed to support him with a run for the seventh time - and with two or fewer for the 12th time in 18 starts.

Brad Ziegler worked an inning of relief for Oakland, extending his scoreless inning streak to 19 to start his career. He's three shy of Boston's Dave Ferriss for the American League record set in 1945.

The Mariners loaded the bases in the seventh and didn't get any runs, before finally cracking the scoreboard in the eighth.

Jose Lopez doubled leading off and went to third on Raul Ibanez's deep fly to right. After Adrian Beltre was intentionally walked, Jose Vidro dribbled a grounder up the middle that was flagged down by Mark Ellis. The throw to first was too late, allowing Lopez to score.

Seattle added another run in the ninth, when Willie Bloomquist hit a one-out double and stole third. Lopez followed with a double to deep left field that made it 2-0.

Ailing A's outfielder Ryan Sweeney had two hits before leaving the game with a dislocated left pinkie following a stolen base attempt in the bottom of the third.

He's already missed time with a left toe injury and a sprained left ankle, but was batting .351 with six multi-hit games over his last 10 since returning to the lineup.

He was replaced by Rajai Davis in the outfield.