|
 Shortstop Grant Green's single off Seattle closer Fernando Rodney
with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the
Angels a 6-5 win over the Mariners on Sunday in front of 37,128 at
Angel Stadium.
The Angels used their seventh win in eight games to remain 1 1/2
games behind the first place Oakland Athletics in the American
League West. The victory also marked the 30th time Los Angeles
rallied from a deficit to win -- the top total in the major leagues.
Eight of those victories occurred in the Angels' final at-bat. Nine
came after Los Angeles trailed by at least three runs.
"We never give up," Angels center fielder Mike Trout said. "That's
the big thing about this team. We have fight, and we keep fighting
until the final out.
"It's fun to watch. It's fun to be a part of."
Though the Mariners lost for the sixth time in nine games, manager
Lloyd McClendon expressed satisfaction with his team's play. All
three games in the series finished with one-run margins, with
Seattle falling in 16 innings Friday before prevailing in 12 innings
Saturday.
 "Listen, we battled probably the best team in baseball," McClendon
said. "I was extremely proud of how we went about our business. It's
a tough loss, but there are a lot of tough losses this year. This is
one we're certainly not going to dwell on."
Green's single culminated a two-run rally against that nullified a
5-4 deficit. Trout began the comeback with a walk against Seattle
closer Fernando Rodney (1-4), then scored when designated hitter
Albert Pujols hit a double down the right field line.
Left fielder Josh Hamilton singled, and second baseman Howie
Kendrick received an intentional walk to load the bases. Rodney then
induced a third baseman David Freese to ground into a 6-2-3 double
play. Seattle then intentionally walked first baseman Efren Navarro
to reload the bases, bringing Green to the plate.
"I've come up in other situations in the bottom of the ninth in
minor league ball," Green said. "Bases loaded, not so much."
Green maintained his concentration against Rodney, whose 27 saves
are the top figure in the American League.
"It's a big situation, but all the pressure's on him," Green said.
"He has to get me out. My job is to put the ball in play."
Green responded by hitting a ground ball up the middle past diving
shortstop Brad Miller to bring Hamilton home with the winning run.
"The split-finger is the type of pitch you're not supposed to hit,
so I was looking fastball," Green said. "He left one over the middle
of the plate that I was able to barrel up."
Left-handed reliever Joe Thatcher (1-1) pitched one scoreless inning
to earn his first victory since coming from the Arizona Diamondbacks
in a July 5 trade.
Seattle took a 5-3 lead in the top of the seventh. Catcher Mike
Zunino's double brought home pinch runner James Jones. One out
later, Zunino scored on center fielder Endy Chavez's single.
Los Angeles narrowed the deficit to one run in the bottom of the
seventh on Kendrick's run-scoring single.
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The Mariners built a 3-0 lead on five successive hits with two outs
in the top of the first against left-hander Tyler Skaggs. Third
baseman Kyle Seager began the rally by pouncing on a 1-0 pitch and
sending it into the right field stands for his 16th home run of the
year.
The next four batters followed with singles. Designated hitter Corey
Hart's blooper to center field drove right fielder Stefen Romero.
Left fielder Dustin Ackley then hit a single to score first baseman
Justin Smoak.
After Ackley's hit, Skaggs gave Los Angeles a chance to rally by
retiring 15 of the next 16 batters -- including 11 in a row from the
third through the sixth innings.
The Angels plated one run in the bottom of the first on a
run-scoring double from Hamilton, then tied the score in the third
when right fielder Kole Calhoun and Trout hit back-to-back solo
homers.
Calhoun pounded his 11th home run of the year inside the right field
foul pole. Trout added his 23rd by sending an 0-2 pitch into the
rocks behind the center field fence.
Mariners right-hander Chris Young amassed seven strikeouts -- one
below his season high -- and conceded no walks while allowing three
runs on 10 hits in six innings.
"That lineup, to me, is as good as anybody's we've seen," Young
said. "I was able to limit some of the damage and give us a chance.
"I just wish I could've given up one less run -- and if I could've
given up one less run, maybe I could've pitched one more inning."
Skaggs allowed five runs on eight hits, a walk and a wild pitch, and
finished with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
NOTES: Seattle RHP Fernando Rodney needs one save for 200 in his
career. ... The Mariners' bullpen entered Sunday leading the major
leagues with a 2.34 ERA. ... Mariners 2B Robinson Cano asked for the
day off because of a tight hamstring. Cano is batting .418
(28-for-67) with three home runs, five doubles and 14 RBIs in his
past 16 games, a stretch that began June 29. Manager Lloyd McClendon
said Cano was available as a pinch hitter, but Cano didn't get off
the bench. ... Los Angeles' Grant Green played shortstop for the
first time in the majors Sunday. Green replaced regular starter
Erick Aybar, who injured his right groin muscle Friday night. Aybar
is day-to-day. ... Angels DH Albert Pujols has 30 RBIs in his past
32 games.
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