Japanese right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma is still looking for his first win of the season after another unsuccessful attempt Friday in the Seattle Mariners' 3-1 defeat to the Oakland Athletics.

In his fourth start of the season, Iwakuma gave up three runs and five hits, including two home runs, while issuing four walks and striking out three in 5-1/3 innings at Oakland Coliseum and was tagged with the loss.

"I was struggling with my control on the mound. Four walks are too many and my pitches didn't reflect my best form," said Iwakuma, who lasted only three innings in his previous start on Sunday.

"I guess I have to believe it's one of those times (when you can't win) and in times like these you just have to hang in there," he said.

On Friday, the Mariners got on the scoreboard first on a Mitch Haniger RBI triple in the third, but Iwakuma (0-2) surrendered a game-tying homer to Trevor Plouffe in the fifth and a go-ahead solo homer to Yonder Alonso in the sixth.

Athletics starter Sean Manaea (1-1) allowed one run and five hits in six innings of work for the win.

To the 36-year-old Iwakuma, recovering from a slow start to a season is a familiar pattern. Despite taking three losses in April last season, he went on to win four in May and eventually finished the season with a career-high 16 wins.