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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. Nike Air Max Tn Outlet . After two months of mediocrity, perhaps the Washington Nationals have turned the page. Strasburg struck out 11 in seven innings Wednesday night and the Nationals kept the Philadelphia Phillies bats quiet yet again in an 8-4, rain-interrupted win. Air Max 720 In Offerta .com) - Jahlil Okafor had 21 points, Tyus Jones scored 16 with 10 assists and No. http://www.airmaxitaliascarpe.it/scarpe-...ontate.html.com) - The Toronto Blue Jays will look to snap a three-game skid Friday night when they continue their road trip in the opener of a three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Scarpe Nike Air Max Scontate . - The New England Patriots needed help on defence so they added three experienced players at midseason. Air Max Plus Scontate .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings take aim at an eighth straight victory on Monday night as they wrap up a road trip versus the Calgary Flames.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Jack Del Rio had a big Thanksgiving Day surprise for his team. John Fox joined the players and coaches for their post-practice huddle on the football field Thursday. Amid hails, hugs and handshakes, he told them how thankful he was for his health, their hard work and his good friend Del Rio for running things while he was recovering from open-heart surgery. "I believe there couldnt have been a better message on a better day," safety David Bruton said. Of course, Fox also took the opportunity to do some coaching, imploring his players to focus on beating Kansas City this weekend so that when he officially returns to work Monday, hell have a first-place team awaiting him. It hasnt been determined whether Fox will coach from the sideline or the booth for his first game back, when the Broncos host the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 8. The team issued a statement Thursday saying that "while no formal restrictions will be placed on his workload upon his return, he will continue to be monitored by our medical staff as his well-being remains our No. 1 priority." Its been less than a month since Fox had his heart operation. Team owner Pat Bowlen sent his private jet to Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday to bring Fox and his wife, Robin, back to Denver. Fox had been recuperating at his off-season home after aortic valve replacement surgery Nov. 4. Del Rio said he invited Fox to drop by the office Thanksgiving morning so that the entire team wouldnt have to show up at the Fox house for turkey dinner. "It was great to see (him) and very fitting on a day like today when were all kind of taking a pause and taking a break and giving thanks," Del Rio said. Fox will stay back in Denver when the Broncos visit Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday for an AFC West showdown between 9-2 teams that could go a long way in determininng playoff positioning.dddddddddddd. Del Rio has gone 2-1 in Foxs absence. Fox has actually been back coaching for a while. He and Del Rio talk every day, and he even Skyped his players during a team meeting last week. He was breaking down plays upon his release from the hospital, and on Wednesday quarterback Peyton Manning said theyve communicated "a healthy amount" over the last three weeks. His return was first reported by Fox Sports. About a week after the surgery, Fox said on a conference call with reporters that he was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, one that has only two leaflets instead of the usual three. The aortic valve regulates blood flow from the heart into the aorta, the major blood vessel that brings blood into the body. He said it was discovered in 1997 when a murmur showed up in a physical while he was the Giants defensive co-ordinator. He was told earlier this year that surgery was necessary, but he had hoped to delay the operation until after the Super Bowl. That changed when he almost passed out Nov. 2 while golfing in Charlotte, two days after hed visited his cardiologist in Raleigh. Less than 48 hours later, he had surgery, and he was released from the hospital four days after that. He said the typical hospital stay for such surgeries is five to seven days. He also noted that he was "very, very healthy," saying his heart condition was more of a birth defect than the result of any poor lifestyle choices or too much stress. He pledged then get back to work by seasons end. Tight end Jacob Tamme called it a "pretty cool Thanksgiving treat to have him back and see how happy he was to be back." "I mean, its killing him (to be away)," Tamme said. "He loves it, man. He loves being around this group and we love having him here. So it was pretty awesome." ' ' '