SEATTLE (AP) -- The free-falling Mariners lost manager John McLaren during a heated argument last night, then lost for the 15th time in 17 games when they were beaten by the Oakland Athletics 7-4.

The Mariners dropped 61/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL wild-card race with 19 games left.

AP

Oakland Athletics' Mark Ellis singles in one run against the Seattle Mariners in the sixth inning

McLaren was tossed in the fourth inning after Jarrod Washburn walked Donnie Murphy with the bases loaded, tying at 1. Plate umpire Chris Guccione called ball four on a pitch that appeared well off the plate and Washburn shouted "that's not inside!" and punctuated it with an expletive.

McLaren got ejected while yelling from the dugout, and he came out to confront the umpire, who rolled his eyes and looked away.

McLaren pointed both his index fingers toward Guccione's chest.

When crew chief Tom Hallion intervened, McLaren yelled at him, too, before stomping off to the night's loudest cheers from the home crowd.

Washburn then walked Kurt Suzuki to force in a second run and Shannon Stewart's two-run single made it 4-to-1.

The Mariners will try and get one game in the series when Miguel Batista faces Dan Haren in the finale tonight.