Athletics 5, Mariners 3

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A signed Edgar Martinez jersey greeted Mark Redman in his locker once the Oakland pitcher had finally beaten the Seattle Mariners for the first time.

It was fitting Martinez returned it Tuesday, when Redman worked efficiently to shut down the star designated hitter and the rest of Seattle's struggling lineup.

Redman earned his first victory in six starts and Bobby Crosby and Eric Chavez each homered in the Athletics' 5-3 win that sent the Mariners to their 14th straight road loss, matching the club record set in 1988.

They haven't won away from Safeco Field since beating the Pirates in Pittsburgh on June 20.

”He's one of the greatest hitters in the game,” Redman said, noting he collects the uniforms for his son. ”I don't know how much longer he'll play. I'd like to have a jersey from one of the greatest hitters in the game. I consider him one of the toughest outs in baseball.”

Martinez went 1-for-4 and grounded into the first of three Seattle double plays in the first inning. The 41-year-old Martinez also respects Redman, who made his major league debut against the Mariners on July 24, 1999, for Minnesota and got a no-decision.

”He made his pitches down in the zone. It was a changeup low and I went for it,” Martinez said of the double-play ball. ”He changed speed well. Tonight he located the ball. He threw more inside tonight than last week.”

Redman (7-8) had lost his previous five starts, including 4-2 in Seattle last Thursday. The left-hander won for the first time in nine career starts against Seattle, allowing three runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out one and walked three.

Erubiel Durazo hit an RBI double and Eric Byrnes added a sacrifice fly for the A's, who have won four straight for their longest win streak since getting a season-best eight straight June 5-13.

Oakland pulled within 1 1/2 games of first-place Texas in the AL West after the Rangers lost 2-0 at Anaheim.

Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 19 games with a first-inning single to left. Suzuki's streak is the longest active run in the majors after Atlanta's J.D. Drew had his 22-game hitting streak snapped on Tuesday.

Randy Winn went 0-for-3 with a walk to see his hitting streak end at 11 games. Seattle took a 1-0 lead in the first when Martinez grounded into the double play with the bases loaded to score Suzuki from third. But the Mariners also hit into double plays in the third and fourth innings and didn't capitalize on their chances.

Redman allowed a two-run homer to Justin Leone with one out in the seventh that pulled the Mariners to 4-3, then gave up a single to Willie Bloomquist before Ricardo Rincon entered in relief.

Rincon struck out Suzuki swinging, then got Winn to groundout to second. Justin Lehr and Jim Mecir pitched the eighth, with Mecir striking out pinch-hitter Dave Hansen looking on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning. After hitting the leadoff batter in the ninth with a pitch, Octavio Dotel struck out the side for his sixth save in eight chances. Suzuki struck out swinging to end it.

Crosby connected for his 15th homer this season in the fourth, a solo shot off Ryan Franklin (3-9) that sailed into the left-field bleachers to make it 3-1. He also singled in the sixth. Crosby is batting .555 (5-for-9) with two homers lifetime against Franklin.

”Crosby just hits me,” Franklin said. ”He's that guy on that team who really gets me. Every pitcher has one for every team — one player who is able to hit them no matter what.”

Chavez hit a solo homer to left leading off the eighth, his 17th on the year. The three-time Gold Glover also started all three of the double plays that backed Redman. Redman got his majors-leading ninth pickoff in the fifth when Miguel Olivo tried to steal second.

”The little things help you win games,” manager Ken Macha said when he heard about the stat.

Franklin hasn't won since June 5 against the Chicago White Sox, a span of seven starts. The right-hander has lost five straight decisions and is struggling to receive enough run support.

Franklin allowed four runs on six hits in seven innings, struck out two and walked three.