Outstanding start by Rich Hill ends A’s losing streak

Hill pitched eight scoreless innings to help the A’s top the division-leading Mariners 5-0.

Hill’s streak of starts in which he gave up no more than four hits while working at least five innings ended at six; the Mariners recorded eight hits off him, few of them struck well.

Seattle loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning without hitting the ball hard, with Nelson Cruz’s infield single, an opposite-field flare by Dae-Ho Lee and a bloop to center by Kyle Seager.

“That second inning was as sharp as I’ve ever seen him, to retire those hitters the way he did was very, very impressive,” catcher Stephen Vogt said.

Using his usual sensational curveball and mixing in a good changeup (plus what Vogt called “a little eephus breaking pitch” Hill used to strike out Iannetta looking), Hill retired 14 in a row before Taylor’s one-out single in the eighth.

Seattle starter Taijuan Walker held Oakland scoreless through six innings, but Vogt led off the seventh with a blast into the seats in right, his fourth homer of the season.

In the eighth, Marcus Semien reached on a two-base error by Taylor, the shortstop, and scored on a single by Jake Smolinski.

Reliever Vidal Nuño hit Vogt to force in a run and Joel Peralta gave up a two-run double to Valencia.