|
 The Angels piled up 15 hits in a 7-5 win over the Seattle
Mariners.
With first baseman Albert Pujols, 34, taking his first night off of
the season, the Angels got plenty of offense. The top three hitters
in Los Angeles batting order went a combined 8-for-12 with five
RBIs.
"It's definitely something we can build on, especially with a big
series coming up in Oakland," said right fielder Kole Calhoun, who
went 2-for-4 while scoring three times in the leadoff role.
Shortstop Erick Aybar's three-run homer capped off a four-run fourth
inning as Los Angeles (30-23) jumped out to a 5-0 lead on the way to
its third-highest run total in May.
The Angels took a 7-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning
before a one-out, two-run home run by Seattle third baseman Kyle
Seager made things interesting. Los Angeles closer Ernesto Frieri
entered and recorded the last two outs for his eighth save of the
season.
 Aybar went 3-for-5 from the No. 2 spot, and center fielder Mike
Trout finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs while filling in for Pujols in
the No. 3 hole. The top three hitters in the Angels' batting order
accounted for more than half of the team's hits while driving in
five of the seven runs.
"They did a great job," manager Mike Scioscia said. "It is good to
see Kole get some hits and get on base as much as he did. Erick and
Mike followed suit. We had lots of opportunities, and we cashed in
on enough of them and held on."
Aybar, Trout and designated hitter C.J. Cron collected three hits
apiece. Cron went 3-for-5 with a single, a double, a triple and two
runs.
Los Angeles starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker (3-1) allowed four hits
and three runs over 5 1/3 innings. He was sent to Triple-A after his
last start but was brought back without missing a turn in the
rotation because of a season-ending injury to reliever Sean Burnett.
"It's exciting to be able to come back," Shoemaker said.
Right fielder Michael Saunders had a home run and three RBIs for
Seattle (26-27).
"We battled back," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said, "but it
just wasn't enough."
The Mariners played without second baseman Robinson Cano, who sat
out a game for the first time this season. Cano was a late scratch
due to an illness.
After Seager's home run in the bottom of the ninth, Cano removed his
jacket and donned a batting helmet while holding a bat on the top
step of the dugout, but he never got into the game.
McClendon said after the game that Cano only would have been used if
he represented the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth. The
All-Star second baseman watched as designated hitter Stefen Romero
and left fielder Dustin Ackley went down to end the game.
[to top of second column] |
Seattle had just six hits and committed two errors, neither of which
resulted in a run.
Mariners starter Brandon Maurer (1-4) gave up five runs in four
innings, taking his fourth loss in a row.
Maurer kept the Mariners in the game for three innings before Los
Angeles tagged him for four runs in the top of the fourth. The big
blow came on a two-out, three-run home run from Aybar, who drilled a
3-2 pitch into the right field stands for a 5-0 Los Angeles lead.
"I thought he was going to put together a good game early on,"
McClendon said of Maurer, "but the fourth inning got him."
Maurer actually seemed encouraged by his performance.
"Today was a big improvement," he said. "The numbers might not show
it, but I definitely felt better than I have all season."
Maurer's season ERA is up to 7.51, but the Mariners continue to give
him the ball every five days as they wait for prospects Taijuan
Walker and James Paxton to return from injuries.
"(Maurer) has struggled, but when you look at the options, you've
got to make sure you've got a viable option," McClendon said. "It's
something (general manager) Jack (Zduriencik) and I will sit down
and talk about."
NOTES: Seattle's Nick Franklin, originally penciled at designated
hitter, took Robinson Cano's spot at second base, and DH Stefen
Romero was added to the lineup. RF Michael Saunders batted third in
the order, making him the first Mariner other than Cano to hit in
that spot this season. Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said that
Cano (illness) would be re-evaluated Friday. ... Los Angeles OF Josh
Hamilton (thumb) took batting practice with the team again before
Thursday's game, and he could resume his rehab stint with Triple-A
Salt Lake on Friday. If all goes well, Hamilton could be back in the
Angels' lineup for Tuesday's game against Houston. ... Mariners SS
Brad Miller had just two hits in Seattle's previous 15 games before
collecting two Thursday.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
