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 Taijuan Walker made it three consecutive starts in which he did not
walk a batter, pitching the Seattle Mariners to a 3-1 victory over
the Los Angeles Angels Friday night at Angel Stadium.
Walker gave up just one run in seven innings and struck out six. Not
only did he not walk a batter, he went to a three-ball count only
three times, and retired the hitter each time.
He gave up a two-out, solo home run to center fielder Mike Trout in
the first inning, and then allowed nothing more over his final six
innings.
"Probably just trusting his stuff," Mariners catcher Mike Zunino
said when asked about Walker's improved control. "When you can trust
throwing in the zone and filling the strike zone up, it helps in a
variety of ways.
"Guys know you're going to be in the strike zone and they're going
to be swinging a little bit more. He's getting a lot of quick outs,
which helps his pitch count. He can attack guys like that; hitters
have to make the adjustment, not him."
The Mariners offense was led by shortstop Brad Miller, who had three
hits, including an RBI double. Designated hitter Nelson Cruz had an
RBI double, and second baseman Robinson Cano hit a solo home run in
the eighth.
"Robinson's a veteran, he knows what the guy is probably trying to
do with him in certain situations," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon
said of Cano's tape-measure blast on the first pitch thrown to him
by Angels right-hander Fernando Salas. "I would say he got all of
that one."
Other than Trout's homer, the Angels' best scoring chance against
Walker came in the sixth inning when Trout led off with a single and
first baseman Albert Pujols was hit by a pitch.
Shortstop Erick Aybar laid down a sacrifice bunt, giving the Angels
runners on second and third with one out. But Walker struck out
third baseman David Freese with a chest-high fastball clocked at 97
mph, then got designated hitter Matt Joyce on a fly to right.
"The strikeout was huge right there," Walker said. "I'm maybe
looking for a ground ball but when I got two strikes, I'm looking to
put him away."
Angels starter Matt Shoemaker (4-6) pitched well, but not well
enough. He gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks in six-plus
innings.
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"I thought Shoe started off with great velocity, really good
command," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "No doubt the fastball
was in good zones early. He pitched a really good ballgame for us,
gave us a chance to win. Maybe a couple pitches here and there where
he didn't quite get where he wanted to, especially to Miller, but
we'll take that outing from Shoe."
Mariners closer Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 15th save.
Aybar had to leave the game in the seventh inning because of a tight
left hamstring. He is day-to-day.
The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on the home run by
Trout, his 19th of the season but his first in his last 13 games.
The 12-game drought was his longest homerless stretch of the season.
The Angels went scoreless the rest of the way as their offense
continues to struggle. They have scored 13 runs over their past six
games.
"Guys are working hard and putting everything they can into finding
their groove," Scioscia said. "Some guys have been doing well
offensively, and there are some guys obviously that need to get into
their game."
NOTES: Angels RHP Jered Weaver, on the disabled list with an
inflamed left hip, played "light catch" before the game. He is
eligible to come off the disabled list July 6, but it's likely he
won't return to the rotation until after the All-Star break. ...
Mariners 1B/OF Mark Trumbo returned to Angel Stadium for the first
time since he was traded by the club to Arizona following the 2013
season. He hit 95 home runs for the Angels between 2010 and 2013.
... Angels RHP Trevor Gott has not yielded a run in his major league
career since first being called up June 14. In six games, he's
thrown six scoreless innings, allowing three hits, striking out four
and walking none. ... Mariners 1B Logan Morrison has a streak of 44
consecutive errorless games.
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