Rookie A.J. Griffin moved to 7-1 as the Oakland Athletics knocked off the Seattle Mariners 8-2 on Friday. The win kept the Athletics two games in front of the surging Los Angeles Angels in the American League Wild Card chase.

It was the Athletics' first game back in Oakland after a 10-game roadtrip in which they went 4-6. Oakland got off to a quick start, with a Coco Crisp leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning. The Athletics took the lead for good in the third inning before tacking on four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Griffin was solid once again for the A's, allowing one run over 5 2/3 innings while striking out four. The only run Griffin allowed came on a Trayvon Robinson solo home run in the second inning. Friday's start was a bit of a bounce back start for Griffin who was coming off two rough starts on the roadtrip.

The Athletics scored four runs off Mariners starter Blake Beavan before chasing him after 4 2/3 innings. Crisp finished 3-5 with a HR and one RBI while Stephen Drew also homered and drove in two runs.

The series will continue Saturday with Dan Straily facing Jason Vargas. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET.