Cano homers in Mariners' 11-11 tie with the Athletics

MESA, Ariz. -- Robinson Cano belted a single that didn't count and followed with a two-run homer in the Seattle Mariners' 11-11 tie with the Oakland Athletics on Thursday.

Cano and home plate umpire Dana DeMuth were both asking for time in the fourth inning when starter Kendall Graveman followed through with a pitch. Cano ripped it into center field but was called back to the plate. He then hit a home run on a 2-1 pitch.

Rob Brantly also homered for Seattle.

Danny Valencia homered and drove in three and Coco Crisp added a two-run double for the A's.

Mariners shortstop Ketel Marte was struck in the eye when the ball took a tricky hop on a throw in from right fielder Daniel Robertson on Jed Lowrie's double. Cano said it was a hard infield, which may have been a contributing factor.

Marte was checked by team trainers and remained in the game.

STARTING TIME

Mariners: LHP James Paxton said he went to his breaking stuff too often and that threw him off his game. He retired the first two hitters he faced in each of the first two innings but still allowed seven runs in two-plus innings.

"It's a mental thing really," Paxton said. "I have to do a better job recognizing that I lost the breaking stuff. I needed to step off the mound and disconnect myself, ask what I was doing wrong and how to fix it."

Paxton walked two and gave up two hits to open the third.

"I may have been going a little too fast," he said. "I was too quick to the plate. I'm still refining my breaking ball. The consistency is not there yet. I just didn't have a good day."

Athletics: RHP Graveman was happy to build his pitch count and get up and down more often between innings.

"Mentally, it was about being more prepared," Graveman said. "I treated it like a regular season game, where you have to stay locked in for a longer period of time."

Graveman also mixed his four-seamer in, along with the two-seamer and changeup. He was more disappointed in walking three than giving up the home runs.

"I was missing by a little, trying to be too fine," he said. "But I also battled back into counts. I labored a little bit at the end but you still have to find ways to get outs."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mariners: 1B Stefen Romero was a late scratch from the starting lineup. ... C Steve Clevenger (flu-like symptoms) was in the lineup as the designated hitter. .... RHP Tony Zych (food poisoning) was scheduled to pitch but did not appear. ... LHP Charlie Furbush (triceps tightness) completed a successful long toss session on Wednesday.

Athletics: RHP Jarrod Parker (fractured right elbow) returned to camp. He's facing yet another surgery (his fourth) in the area.

UP NEXT

Mariners: RHP Nathan Karns will pitch for Seattle on Friday in Peoria against the Texas Rangers and RHP Pedro Payano.

Athletics: RHP Jesse Hahn starts for Oakland on Friday in a game at the Cleveland Indians against RHP Josh Tomlin.

MOVES:

Mariners: RHP Steve Johnson was signed to a minor league and reported to minor league camp. He was released by the Rangers on Monday. Johnson appeared in 27 games with the Baltimore Orioles over the past few years.