SEATTLE -- The Oakland Athletics got to be spoilers and in the process saw some of their young players thrive playing in a charged, playoff atmosphere.Joey Wendle hit a tiebreaking double in the 10th inning and the As ended the Seattle Mariners playoff hopes with a 9-8 victory on Saturday night.Bruce Maxwell opened the 10th with a double off closer Edwin Diaz (0-4), and Wendles fourth hit of the night scored pinch-runner Chad Pinder with the winning run.We talked about, before the series, that this was kind of our playoffs and the atmosphere would be different for these younger guys than anything theyve ever experienced before, Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. To get this many contributions from so many guys on the roster today, and in particular some of the younger guys ... this is really going to serve them well in the future.The Mariners were hoping to take their playoff chances to the final day of the regular season for the second time in three years. After rallying for three runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to tie it 8-8, the Mariners couldnt make game No. 162 count.Oakland got contributions throughout its lineup to ruin Seattles chances. Marcus Semien had four hits, including an RBI double in the eighth inning to put Oakland back ahead. Khris Davis hit his 42nd home run of the season and had an RBI double during Oaklands four-run third inning against Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma.But the standout was Wendle. Batting ninth in the order, Wendle scored twice, had three singles and capped his night with the winning double.It made it fun. As a player, you thrive in an environment like that, Wendle said. It was one of those games where you wanted to be up to the plate. I know there wasnt a guy in the dugout who didnt want to be up at the plate or didnt want the ball to be hit to them.Seattle had its chances late to push the AL wild card race to the final day as a four-team race. The Mariners rallied from 5-2 and 7-4 deficits to pull even at 7-all in the seventh inning after a two-run home run from Nelson Cruz, his 43rd of the season. Ben Gamels two-out single in the eighth scored Mike Freeman to tie the game again.Seattle will lament missed opportunities in the eighth and ninth innings. Each time Seattle had the bases loaded with two outs and couldnt push across another run.Ive only been a Mariner for a year but I have to believe that will go down as one of the most memorable games in Mariners history, Seattle manager Scott Servais said. Unfortunately, it didnt go our way. You know, cant say enough about our team. The competitive spirit. You know, how they went about things this entire year.Oakland also got a lucky bounce in the 10th. Gamel opened the bottom of the inning with a single, but Ryan Madson (6-7) recovered to jam Robinson Cano and force a weak groundout to third. Cruz hit a liner that bounced off Madsons leg and directly to first baseman Yonder Alonso for the second out and prevented Gamel from possibly scoring from second.Kyle Seager flew out to center field for the final out.SEATTLES DROUGHTThe Mariners last reached the postseason in 2001 when they tied the major league record with 116 wins in the regular season but were eliminated in the AL Championship Series by the New York Yankees.Seattle was well aware it needed a victory to stay alive in the wild-card race as highlights and updates of the other games were shown in the stadium throughout the early innings.STARTING ROLELost in the drama of all the late action was a shaky final performance by Iwakuma. After carrying the Mariners for stretches of the season, Iwakuma lasted just 3 2/3 innings and gave up five runs in his last start of the year.Oakland starter Jharel Cotton had allowed only two runs into the fifth before giving up Canos two-run homer that pulled Seattle within 5-4.UP NEXTAthletics: Left-hander Sean Manaea (6-9) closes out his rookie season on Sunday. Since coming off the disabled list in mid-September, Manaea is 1-0 with an 0.50 ERA in three starts.Mariners: Felix Hernandez (11-7) makes his final start of the year. Hernandez lost his last start against Houston.Cheap MLB Jerseys From China .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. MLB Jerseys 2020 Online . -- Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated, a day after he was suspended for an NFL substance-abuse policy violation. https://www.mlbjerseys2020.com/ . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Nike MLB Jerseys For Sale . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. Stitched Nike MLB Jerseys .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up.Australias Grand Slam quest goes on hold this week as they head to Stade de France to face Les Bleus. Michael Cheikas men are two from two up north having beaten both Wales and Scotland, though only Tevita Kuridranis outstretched right hand saw them avoid defeat at Murrayfield last week.France, meanwhile, began their autumn campaign with a crunching 52-8 victory over Samoa. Fijian-born Virimi Varakawa, a prime example of the current debate over the international residency rule, was the star of that victory with a hat trick and his showdown with in-form Wallabies winger Dane Haylett-Petty will be of interest in Paris.But the big question for the visitors is just how their back-up players perform in the spotlight after Cheika made a raft of changes to freshen up his 23. Opposite Guy Noves must surely be revving his troops up at the prospect of a win over one of the southern hemispheres big three and, given Australias lack of experience in some quarters, the French will fancy their chances of repeating their three-point victory from this time last year.Team newsGuy Noves has made five changes to the side that hammered Samoa last week, the biggest of which sees Jean-Marc Doussain get the nod to replace Trinh-Duc at No.10. The back three will feature two Fijian-born players in Paris, with Noa Nakaitaci moving onto the right wing.Cheika hinted earlier this week he would be making changes and that certainly proved to be the case when the Wallabies squad was revealed on Thursday. Up front, there is an all new tight five with Stephen Moores move to the bench seeing David Pocock captain the side. Pocock has moved back to his favoured No.7 jersey with Scott Fardy and Sean McMahon starting at No.6 and No.8 respectively. In the backs, the new faces are Quade Cooper, Kyle Godwin, Sefanaia Naivalu and Luke Morahan.France: Spedding, Nakaitaci, Lamerat, Fofana, Vakatawa, Doussain, Machenaud; Baille, Guirado (C), Atonio, Vahaamahina, Maestri, Gourdon, Picamoles.Replacements: Chat, Chiocci, Slimani, Le Devedec, Chouly, Serin, Lopez, Fickou.ddddddddddddAustralia: Morahan, Naivalu, Kuridrani, Godwin, Speight, Cooper, Genia; Slipper, Latu, Alaalatoa, Douglas, Simmons, Fardy, Pocock (C), McMahon.Replacements: Moore, Sio, Robertson, Skelton, Mumm, Timani, Phipps, Foley, Naiyaravoro (one to be omitted).Key match-up: Guilhelm Guirado vs Tolu LatuRival captains looked set to face off at hooker this week with until Cheika opted to give Moore a rest and start his skipper from the bench. That means Guirado is suddenly the vastly-more experienced hooker (44 caps) with Latu set to wear the gold jersey for just the second time.Playing his rugby with the likes of Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell and James OConnor at Toulon, Guirado may have a little inside knowledge of Australian play. He will also look to bring the pressure at scrum time and do his best to upset Latu on the Australians throw at lineout time.Key stats- France have met Australia four times at Stade de France since 2009, splitting those Tests with two victories apiece.- After finding himself on the outer rim throughout the Rugby Championship, Tevita Kuridrani has scored a try in each of the Wallabies Tests in Europe.WeatherParis is expecting a cool night with the temperature expected to be around 7 degrees Celsius. There is only a small chance of rain, while light winds are expected.VerdictThe Wallabies may have been a little lucky to escape with a win in Edinburgh, but there had been earlier signs of the improving shape in their game. If that upward trend continues with their new-look squad in Paris, and their set-piece remains solid, Cheikas side should have too much class for a French outfit still finding its feet under Noves. The lack of experience looks to be a worry for Australia, but given the presence of Will Genia and David Pocock they should still have enough cool heads to prevail.Australia by five. ' ' '