Mariners drop back in wild-card race with loss to Athletics

SEATTLE — Lawrence Butler drove in the go-ahead run with two-run single in the top of the fifth, and Athletics pitchers combined for 18 strikeouts in a 7-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night. Zack Gelof hit a solo homer for the A’s in the first, but the Mariners responded with a three-run bottom half of the inning. Julio Rodríguez drove in Seattle’s first run with an RBI double and scored when Cal Raleigh singled to right field for a 2-1 lead. Mariners rookie Lazaro Montes followed with a two-out single to left field in his first at-bat…