MESA Boone Logan Jersey , Ariz. (AP) —oy sauce ice cream. Teammate Marco Estrada is hoping to spend a day at Tokyo Disneyland. Athletics manager Bob Melvin just needs to pack.Melvin and the Athletics head to Japan on Thursday for the major league opening series against the Seattle Mariners at the Toyko Dome on March 20-21. The A’s and Mariners also faced each other in the last opening series in Tokyo, splitting two games in 2012. The Chicago Cubs and New York Mets played there in 2000, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2004, and the Boston Red Sox and Oakland in 2008.Oakland went on to win the AL West seven years ago and reach the Division Series.“In ’12, it was very impactful for us,” Melvin said Wednesday.The trip provides a break in the spring training routine. When the Athletics get back, they have three exhibitions against San Francisco before resuming the season March 28 against the Los Angeles Angels.“You get so caught up in baseball here and your routine here, they’re going to see that baseball is played a little differently there,” Melvin said. “The crowds are different. There are a lot of fun things that you’ll kind of expand your horizons and understand that internationally, it’s a little different than what we do here and I think it will be good for them in the long run.”Hendriks, a 30-year-rght-hander Josh Hader Jersey , can’t wait. The Australian spent part of the offseason in London, Paris and Italy.“I’m really excited because I’m a big history buff and, obviously, Japan is rich with history,” Hendriks said. “I’m excited to go check out some of the sites.”His wife has done some research and wants to check out the Toyosu Fish Market, the Ginza shopping area and the botanical gardens.“My wife and I love to travel,” Hendriks said. “We’re always looking at places. We’ll go, see what we need to see and then we’ll go back.”Melvin wasn’t sure whether he would find time to see much of Tokyo.“I don’t know about sightseeing but maybe find a restaurant or two,” he said. “The last time, I didn’t do any of that. The second time around, maybe take some time to smell the roses a little bit and look around. It should be a fun trip.”Estrada Starlin Castro Jersey , 35, who will start the second game in Tokyo, said he’ll do his research during the long flightThursday. He’s prepared for the loud drum-beating crowds at the Tokyo Dome.“I’m excited about everything, about checking out the entire country,” Estrada said. “I want to venture out and check out some restaurants and maybe try to bring back some of the Japanese whiskey.”The A’s will take 30 players among a traveling party of 160, must pare the roster to 28 for the two games and designate 25 active for each game. Melvin knows it will be an emotional two days for Ichiro Suzuki, the 45-year-old Mariners outfielder who may be playing his final big league games.“He’s had quite a flare for the dramatic over his career,” Melvin said. “I’m hoping he doesn’t come up in a situation that could hurt us. I know there will be some emotion involved in what he’s going through.”Usually, when Suzuki is in town for a series against the A’s, the outfielder gets together for dinner with Melvin, the Mariners’ manager in 2003-04. There may not be time on this trip http://www.marlinsfanproshop.com/authentic-starlin-castro-jersey , Melvin said.“I don’t know that there’s been a more impactful player, at least since I’ve been doing this, than Ichiro,” Melvin said. “He was beloved there. He’ll be in the Hall of Fame there. He’ll be in the Hall of Fame here. … He’s one of the more impactful players for me in baseball history.”NOTES: Opening day starter Mike Fiers had a rough outing in his last spring training game on Wednesday, allowing three home runs over 3 1/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs on a blustery day at Hohokam Stadium. “It’s not like any of those homers were sneaking over the fence,” Fiers said. “They had some good swings and made it tough on me.” Fiers said he expected to be able to throw 75-80 pitches in the opener. … LHP Jesus Luzardo will not make the trip to Japan but will start one of the exhibitions games against the Giants. PHOENIX (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers surged into the NL West lead with a superb September, yet have struggled to shake the Colorado Rockies.Eduardo Escobar homered off Kenta Maeda leading off the ninth inning, and the Arizona Diamondbacks tightened the NL West race with a 4-3 victory over the Dodgers on Tuesday night.Los Angeles (88-70) had won 10 of its previous 12 games to move into the NL West lead, but Colorado (87-70) pulled within a half-game of the NL champions by beating Philadelphia 10-3.“We’ve got to go out there and still win games,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.Chris Taylor hit a tying double off Brad Boxberger (3-7) in the top of the ninth. Escobar sent a full-count fastball from Maeda (8-10) into the right-field seats, stopping Arizona’s four-game losing streak.David Peralta had a two-run double and pinch-hitter Ildemaro Vargas lined a run-scoring single in the seventh inning for Arizona (80-78) Martin Prado Jersey , which needs two wins to ensure consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2007-08.“We know two teams are fighting it out for the NL West,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We are bummed we are not one of them, but we still want to be a part of the blueprint of what happens. We are not going to lay down for anybody.”Cody Bellinger hit a solo home run for the Dodgers.“Win more games than we lose, we should be in the playoffs,” pitcher Walker Buehler said.Coming off a career-high 12-strikeout performance against Colorado in a no-decision, Buehler allowed two runs and four hits in six innings.He gave up a pair of singles through the first five innings and led 1-0 before allowing Peralta’s double. Enrique Hernandez hit a tying single in the seventh following Yasmani Grandal’s leadoff triple.Matt Koch gave up a leadoff homer to Bellinger in the second, Los Angeles’ NL-leading 227th home run this season. Koch allowed one run and five hits in 4 1/3 innings.“It was a fun game for sure,” Koch said. “A lot of timely hitting, a lot of good defense.”MISSED CHANCESThe Dodgers gave up a walkoff homer to lose, but had plenty of chances to build a lead before Arizona rallied.Los Angeles had a runner at second with one out or less three times and failed to advance him, finishing 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position.“To not be able to get that guy to third base I think was the difference in the game http://www.marlinsfanproshop.com/authentic-starlin-castro-jersey ,” Roberts said. “We just couldn’t take advantage of our opportunities.”MACHADO STAREDOWNArizona reliever Yoan Lopez worked out of a jam after a leadoff double to Manny Machado in the eighth and had an emphatic celebration after striking out the final two batters. Lopez’s antics did not go over well with Machado, who stared down the Arizona right-hander as he walked toward the dugout.“I respect what he is all about,” Lopez said through an interpreter. ” I was excited and just like him when he raised his arm when he hit the double, I raised mine when had the strikeout. It’s just the way it happened.”TRAINER’S ROOMDiamondbacks: 1B Christian Walker is out for the season with a sinus fracture after being hit by a pitch from Maeda on Monday night. … RHP Shelby Miller, recovering from Tommy John surgery, threw a 60-pitch simulated game and could pitch this weekend against San Diego.UP NEXTDiamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke is 2-1 with a 4.29 ERA this season against the Dodgers heading into Wednesday’s series finale. Dodgers RHP Ross Stripling is 1-1 with a 4.80 ERA in three career starts against Arizona.