Blowing smoke: Bullpen shines for Mariners

OAKLAND — Robinson Cano is thankful that, at the very least, the Mariners bullpen is on his side.

Seattle has won seven of its last eight games, and its bullpen has been a major force in that run, allowing just one run in its last 27 1/3 innings. Mariners relievers were lights-out again in Saturday’s 4-3 win over the A’s, firing 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

“If I was playing on the other side, I would try to get my hits before the eighth or ninth inning,” Cano said. “Even the seventh inning, because Tom Wilhelmsen, he can pitch really good too …

“We just have to try to stay ahead until we get late in the game.”

As manager Scott Servais pointed out, Seattle’s bullpen operated without much margin for error. Leading 4-3, Seattle put four baserunners on over the final four innings but couldn’t add an insurance run.

“Bullpen was outstanding,” he said. “That was the story of the game. They shut them down and were very, very good. And they needed to be tonight.”

Cano was the catalyst of a three-run Seattle fifth, belting a two-run homer to center field. Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma, who pitched with neck …

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