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 Giavotella's hit-and-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning
scored shortstop Erick Aybar from first base, lifting the Angels to
their second walk-off win in as many nights.
Coupled with the game-winning homer from catcher Carlos Perez one
night earlier, it marked the first time the Angels have won
back-to-back games on a walk-off hit since May 29-30, 2010, also
against the Mariners.
"It's very exciting," said Giavotella, who won the starting job at
second base in spring training after Howie Kendrick was traded. "You
try to treat it like any other situation, not change your approach.
When you put too much pressure on yourself, that's when you fail.
Relax, try to hit line drives and good things happen."
While walk-off wins are nice, walk-off losses can be especially
tough.
"It's a funny game," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said.
"Sometimes you got to suck it up. This was a very tough road trip
for us in many ways. Certainly we had opportunities to win ballgames
but as the old saying goes, I think the baseball gods are testing
us."
The Angels were poised to win in the top of the ninth, but the
Mariners rallied to tie the game, handing Angels closer Huston
Street his first blown save of the season. Street was 9-for-9 in
save opportunities before Wednesday.
Street was handed the ball and a 3-2 lead but gave up a leadoff
double to third baseman Kyle Seager to start the ninth. Seager went
to third on single by catcher Mike Zunino and scored on a sacrifice
fly by pinch hitter Dustin Ackley.
That set the stage for Giavotella's heroics in the bottom of the
inning. Street (2-0) got the victory over Mariners reliever Carson
Smith.
"We talk about the guys we need to get into their game, but Johnny
Giavotella's been one of those bright spots since the season began,"
Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's been getting some big hits
for us and is doing a good job."
The Mariners' late rally cost Angels starting pitcher C.J. Wilson a
victory. Wilson gave up two runs and seven hits in seven innings,
and stood to get the win thanks in large part to Trout.
Trout's two-run homer in the third inning off Mariners starter
Roenis Elias was a no-doubter estimated at 441 feet, and his
seventh-inning catch of a drive into the right-center field gap by
Mariners shortstop Chris Taylor certainly will be one of his
highlight-reel catches for years to come.
"He's Mike Trout," Wilson said "I'm grateful. I'm thankful."
Wilson's only blemish on the night was a two-run homer by Seager in
the fourth inning.
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"It was the exact same pitch he popped up in the second inning,"
Wilson said of the pitch Seager hit out. "It was one of those things
where you beat the guy over and over again and he finally just says
'forget it, I'm going to step in the bucket and swing at the first
pitch.' I threw it, I guess, right where he was looking."
Elias also pitched well, but was undone by a third inning when he
gave up a triple by left fielder Collin Cowgill, an RBI double by
right fielder Kole Calhoun and Trout's homer, his team-leading
seventh of the season.
The Mariners finished their road trip to Texas, Houston and Anaheim
losing six of 10.
"Turn the page," McClendon said of his message to his team. "This is
the big leagues. You can say it a thousand times, it's very
difficult to win games at this level. And if you don't execute and
perform at your maximum most nights, they're going to beat you. We
didn't execute when we needed to and they beat us."
NOTES: Angels C Carlos Perez on Tuesday became just the fourth
player in major league history to hit a walk-off home run in his
major league debut, joining the Marlins' Miguel Cabrera (June 20,
2003), the Indians' Josh Bard (Aug. 23, 2002) and the Angels' Billy
Parker (Sept. 9, 1971). ... With 1,344 career managerial wins,
Angels skipper Mike Scioscia needed eight more to catch Chuck Tanner
for 29th on the all-time list. Now in his 16th season, Scioscia is
the longest-tenured manager currently in the majors. ... Mariners 1B
Logan Morrison took a seven-game hitting streak into Wednesday's
game. He was hitting .500 (13-for-26) with three doubles, one triple
and three homers during the streak through Tuesday.
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