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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Adam Dunn is in a pennant race at last, and what an impression he made on his new team as the September stretch run began. Dunn provided instant pop for the struggling Athletics, hitting a towering, two-run homer in his debut at-bat for Oakland to highlight a 6-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday in a matchup of playoff contenders. "I can speak pretty passionately about it, these chances dont come around very often, especially for some of us," said the 34-year-old Dunn, who has never played in the post-season. "Were going to take full advantage." Acquired a day earlier in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, the 6-foot-6, 285-pound Dunn immediately became an imposing presence in the middle of Oaklands order. Dunn is the 12th player in Oakland history to homer in his first at-bat with the team. A 14th-year major leaguer, Dunn homered during a five-run first inning. His drive was a welcome sight for a team that just got swept in a four-game series by the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels and was shut out for 29 straight innings. "Thats the most excited, anxious, probably call it a little nervous, than Ive been in a long time," said Dunn, who was thrown off by the celebratory tunnel formed by teammates in the dugout. The As broke loose a day after manager Bob Melvin let them have it in a closed-door team meeting. He called his teams play "embarrassing and "pathetic" after the As totalled just four runs in the sweep at Anaheim. "They ran the opening kickoff back for a touchdown and the game was over," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. "It wasnt our day." Dunn went 2 for 3 batting cleanup as the designated hitter. He provided a nice lift for an Oakland offence that has struggled since dealing Yoenis Cespedes to Boston for Jon Lester on July 31. With 461 career home runs, Dunn tied Red Sox star David Ortiz for 35th place on the all-time list. Dunn quickly staked Jason Hammel (2-5) to a lead. Hammel also started the season in Chicago, and was traded by the Cubs in July. "It had a little bit of a storybook-type theme," Melvin said of Dunns debut. "Weve really been lacking early energy, runs, he comes up to the plate and youre thinking to yourself, Boy, wouldnt it be great? And he delivers. You got goosebumps. It was awesome." Hammel allowed three hits and struck out five in eight innings to end a three-start winless stretch. It was just his second win since joining the As from the Cubs on July 4. Another recent acquisition, Geovany Soto, added a two-run single with two outs in the first that chased Chris Young (12-7) for the shortest start of his career. A sellout crowd of 36,067 saw the As win after a stretch in which they lost five of six. "Thats the best crowd Ive ever played with," Dunn said. "Im serious. Its unbelievable. If its like that every night here, its going to be a fun little ride." Brad Miller homered leading off the sixth for Seattle, which came into the series opener as the American Leagues top road team. Robinson Canos 21-game hitting streak against the As ended. It dated to Sept. 22, 2012. TRAINERS ROOM Mariners: OF Michael Saunders, on the disabled list since July 11 with a strained left oblique, reported to Arizona to work on strengthening and get some at-bats in simulated games before the club determines the next step in his rehab. Athletics: CF Coco Crisp will have more trigger-point injections for neck stiffness after colliding with the outfield wall Friday. He hit batting practice right-handed. C John Jaso (concussion) swung in the indoor cage and hopes to hit outside Tuesday. UP NEXT Mariners: LHP James Paxton (4-1, 1.83) makes his first career appearance against the As as he looks to win his second straight start. Paxton is 7-1 with a 1.71 ERA in 11 career starts. Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray (13-7, 3.03) is 4-0 with a 1.10 ERA in his first five starts against Seattle, his most victories against any team. ROSTER MOVES Mariners: Placed 1B-DH Jesus Montero on the suspended list. The 24-year-old Montero was recalled from his rehabilitation assignment Friday following a verbal altercation with a Mariners scout at a Class A Northwest League game. ... September call-up RHP Carson Smith made his major league debut in the eighth. He threw two pitches and retired Josh Donaldson on a grounder. Athletics: Reinstated SS Jed Lowrie from the 15-day disabled list and he singled in his first at-bat since Aug. 13. He suffered a hairline fracture of his right index finger Aug. 4. Custom Chicago Blackhawks Jerseys . -- Jerome Williams glanced at Philadelphias schedule and realized he would be facing the Oakland Athletics yet again, with another new team. Glenn Hall Jersey . The Tinkoff-Saxo rider was still dealing with the right shin he broke in a crash which ended his Tour de France on Stage 10. He hoped to defy his doctors and race in the home Grand Tour he won in 2008 and 2012, but he says there have been complications in his recovery. http://www.officialblackhawksfanstore.com/authentic-tony-esposito-blackhawks-jersey/ . They know how difficult it is to beat the San Antonio Spurs. George scored 28 points and Indiana defeated San Antonio 111-100 on Saturday night, snapping an 11-game skid against the Spurs. Patrick Kane Jersey . Fielder ended 4-for-5 with a solo homer, while Avila was 4-for-4 with two runs scored for the Tigers, who put the brakes on a three-game skid and rebounded from a loss in Mondays opener. Victor Martinez and Austin Jackson both contributed two hits, an RBI and a run scored as Detroit maintained its healthy lead atop the AL Central. Steve Larmer Jersey .9 million deal Thursday. The 25-year McGinn had 19 goals and 19 assists in 79 games last season in helping the Avalanche tie a franchise record with 52 wins.SALT LAKE CITY - Kobe Bryant might have called Dwight Howard soft but, just like the Lakers, the Utah Jazz had no one who could stop him.Howard had 22 points and 10 rebounds and the Houston Rockets beat the Jazz 104-93 on Wednesday night to spoil Quin Snyders NBA coaching debut.Howard made six of his first seven shots, many on spin moves for dunks. He was feeling good and it showed.My health is pretty good and I am moving better, Howard said.James Harden added 18 points and 10 assists, and Trevor Ariza had 20 points for the Rockets, who opened the season Tuesday night in Los Angeles with a 108-90 victory over the Lakers.Howard said he knows its early in the season but hes not shy about sharing the Rockets aim this year.I think all of us have one goal and that is to win a championship. You can see that. The way we talk to each other, the way we push each other, Howard said.Alec Burks led Utah with 18 points. Derrick Favors added 16, and Trey Burke had 15.Houston made 14 of 27 3-point attempts and held Utah to 33 per cent shooting in the final quarter. The Jazz missed 13 of their first 15 fourth-quarter attempts, and the Rockets broke open the tight game with 18-5 run.We set the tone defensively and then everything else took care of itself, Ariza said. We have pretty good basketball IQ out there so that makes it easier, but were still learninng how each other plays.ddddddddddddThe Rockets led by as many 13 in the third quarter before Burke led a furious Jazz rally that drew them to 75-72 by the end of the period. The Utah point guard had nine points during the surge that had the sellout crowd on its feet.The Jazz have been tabbed by many experts to finish at the bottom of the Western Conference but their hustle got under the skin of the Rockets at times.To simplify it, they got into the lane and they hit some 3s, Snyder said. We have got to be more one them.Howard committed six turnovers and fouled out late in the game. He had words for the officials as he slowly made his way to the bench.TIP-INSJazz: Utah shot 60 per cent in the first half and still trailed 58-50 due to the Rockets long-range accuracy. ... The Jazz had 13 offensive rebounds, forced 18 turnovers and led 62-44 in points in the paint but was outscored by 33 points on 3-pointers. ...Recent signee Joe Ingles had only one practice with Jazz but appeared in the second quarter and missed his only field goal.Rockets: Papanikolaou, the Greek player in his second NBA game, made his first four 3-point attempts. .. The win marks the first time since 2008-09 that the Rockets have opened with two straight double-digit wins.UP NEXTUtah is at Dallas on Thursday night.The Rockets host Boston on Saturday night. ' ' '