“Happy” Jarred Kelenic, the Mariners take the At

When Seattle’s Jarred Kelenic hit three consecutive home runs at Wrigley Field in Chicago last month, his teammates broke out into a postgame chant.

“Hap-py Jar-red! Hap-py Jar-red!” they sang in unison.

There were a few more verses on Monday night after Kelenic hit a 455-yard home run in the first inning that lifted Seattle to an 11-2 victory over the team. Oakland Athletics. The American League West rival’s four-game hitting streak continues Tuesday night in Seattle

“Happy Jarred, Happy Sailors” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Guys have little catchphrases, things that kind of catch fire throughout the year.

“Ty France was the one who started it … and now it’s going to be the post-game celebration. That’s what brings teams together and that’s what happens with a young player who embraces that, which is great.”

Kelenic, 23, struggled through his first couple of seasons in the big leagues, hitting just .168 through his first 500 plate appearances, but has broken out this year. After hitting .297 on Monday, he leads the team with 10 homers and 25 RBIs, along with a .914 on-base and .914 slugging percentage.

Perhaps most impressive is his performance against left-handed pitchers.

On Sunday, Kelenic hosted Atlanta’s Jared Shuster. It was Seattle’s only hit against the left-hander in six innings. A day later, Kelenic lost to Oakland’s Kyle Muller in another left-on-left matchup.

In 43 at-bats against southpaws this season, Kelenic is hitting .349 with four homers, 12 RBIs and a 1.099 OPS, making him a contender for the projected slot with AJ Pollock.

“He was probably our best hitter against lefties,” Servais said. “Who would have thought it would come this season?”

The Aks, who have lost five straight games, welcomed back outfielder/first baseman Seth Brown, who was sidelined April 8 with a Grade 2 left oblique strain following a check swing. Brown, who led the At’s in home runs (25) and RBIs (73) last season, went 2-4 and drove in a run Monday.

Oakland was scoreless for six innings Sailors ace Luis Castillo

“We had a chance in the sixth with Jace (Peterson) up and the bases loaded to get back in the game,” Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said. “He made a good change and gained ground.”

On Tuesday, A’s right-hander Luis Medina (0-2, 6.88 ERA) will face Seattle left-hander Marco Gonzales (3-1, 6.10).

It will be Medina’s fourth career start and his first against Sailors. After losing his first two starts, he took a no-decision Wednesday against Arizona, allowing three runs on three hits over six innings in a 5-3 loss. The 24-year-old walked two and had a career-high six strikeouts

Gonzales is 10-4 with a 3.78 ERA in 19 career games against the Aks, including 18 starts. He suffered his first loss of the season Wednesday in Boston, allowing eight runs in 1 2/3 innings. His ERA skyrocketed from 4.42 to 6.10.

— Field Level Media