SEATTLE (AP) — Nelson Cruz hit a tie breaking three-run homer in the fifth inning, Dee Gordon had five hits, and Felix Hernandez pitched six solid innings to propel the Seattle Mariners to a 6-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.

A gritty start by A’s right-hander Andrew Triggs that kept his team in a 1-1 deadlock through four taut innings at Safeco Field unraveled in the fifth. With two outs and two runners on, Cruz hammered Triggs’ first pitch over the fence in left-center to give Seattle a lead it would not relinquish.

The Mariners held on for their third consecutive victory and sixth in their last seven.

Seattle closer Edwin Diaz struck out two in a shutout ninth to notch his majors-leading 12th save, protecting a quality start by Hernandez (4-2), who gave up three runs and three hits while striking out seven and walking four.