SEATTLE (AP) -- The Cleveland Indians' latest slide could be a costly one for manager Manny Acta, and he knows it.
Zach McAllister pitched six effective innings, but Vinnie Pestano yielded a tiebreaking two-run double to Eric Thames in the eighth and Cleveland fell 3-1 at Seattle for its eighth consecutive loss.
The Indians' slide comes on the heels of an 11-game skid from July 27 to Aug. 7. Cleveland has lost 21 of its last 25 and is 10-29 since the All-Star break. The last time the Indians dropped 21 of 25 was Aug. 28 to Sept. 24, 2009, according to STATS LLC.
"It's never been done in the history of the game where 25 guys are released," Acta said. "They should relax. If one guy is going to go, it's going to be me, not them."
Seattle has won eight in a row for its longest winning streak since it won eight straight from June 23 to July 1, 2007. The Mariners have won 15 of their last 16 home games.
Kyle Seager set up Thames' big hit with a one-out drive to right-center off Pestano (3-1) that he stretched into a double.
"The ball got there a little bit before and he put the tag down," Seager said. "(I) felt like if I tried to alter the slide and get my left hand around there, that would be my best chance."
Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera argued the call by second base umpire Ed Hickox, and Acta came out to dispute it. The manager was eventually ejected for the second time this season.
"From where I was, I felt he tagged him and the guy was out," Acta said. "Ed was right. I watched the replay and the guy was safe."
John Jaso was intentionally walked, Jesus Montero struck out and Thames doubled to right.
Stephen Pryor (3-0) got two outs to get the win, and Tom Wilhelmsen threw a hitless ninth for his 19th save in 21 chances.
Seattle won despite getting outhit 8-5. Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma allowed one run and six hits in 5 2-3 innings.
McAllister gave up one run and three hits, struck out four and walked three.
"McAllister did a very good job," Acta said. "I just feel these guys are playing too tense."
Michael Saunders hit his 14th homer in the first inning to give Seattle the lead. Saunders has four homers in his last four games.
"I didn't want to walk him," McAllister said. "It's early in the game and I wanted him to try and beat me."
Cleveland tied it in the sixth. Shin-Soo Choo walked with one out and moved up on Carlos Santana's single. Both runners moved up on a double steal and Choo came home when Casey Kotchman reached on an infield single to third against Oliver Perez.
Ezequiel Carrera's walk loaded the bases, and Perez struck out Jack Hannahan to end the inning.
"Right now offensively, we had plenty of opportunities to take the lead, but it seems every player is just trying to do too much," Acta said.
Cleveland had runners on base in each of the first four innings, but none made it past second base. The Indians grounded into double plays in the second, third and fourth innings.
The Indians went 1-8 on their nine-game road trip and are 4-17 in August.
"I'm very disappointed in how this road trip went," Acta said. "Just very disappointed. I expect better and things just escalated out of order here on the road trip."
NOTES: Injured OF Franklin Gutierrez was in the Seattle clubhouse for a scheduled off day from his rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Tacoma. Gutierrez has been on the DL since June 29 because of a concussion. Gutierrez is to rejoin Tacoma on Thursday. . McAllister has allowed three earned runs or less in 12 of his 15 outings this season.
