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 They had no such problem Monday, when five quick runs were enough
on a day when starting pitcher Chris Young found his A-game.
The Mariners (25-25) jumped out to a 5-0 lead and rode Young's 6
1/3-inning performance to a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
"We took advantage early," said Mariners second baseman Robinson
Cano, who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs to help Seattle snap a two-game
losing streak. The Mariners fell 4-1 to the Houston Astros on
Sunday.
Cano collected hits in each of the first two innings as the Mariners
grabbed a 5-0 lead. Center fielder James Jones and right fielder
Michael Saunders each scored twice for Seattle.
The Mariners improved to 5-1 against the Angels this season.
Los Angeles (28-22) managed just three hits for the game, including
a solo home run from first baseman Albert Pujols.
"(Young) just put the ball into some gray areas, and we didn't
square (the bat) up very well," Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia
said.
 Young (4-2) didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning, when right
fielder Kole Calhoun sent a liner back up the middle for a one-out
single.
One inning later, Pujols hit a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence
for his 14th home run of the season and the 506th home run of his
career. The solo shot cut Seattle's lead to 5-1.
Young allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out five.
"I had a nice rhythm," the veteran said after earning a fourth win
in his past six starts. "I made some adjustments between this start
and the last one. I tried to be aggressive early."
Young has allowed one earned run or none in four of his nine starts
this season.
"What a godsend to this rotation," manager Lloyd McClendon said.
"He's just been tremendous."
Three Seattle relievers saw action. Closer Fernando Rodney pitched a
scoreless ninth in a non-save situation to finish off the win.
Some early defensive mishaps by the Angels helped Seattle jump out
to a big early advantage.
The strangest one came when starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs fielded a
chopper from Saunders and threw to the wrong player. Skaggs tossed
the ball to second baseman Howie Kendrick, who was running over to
back up first base as Pujols watched helplessly.
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The play was ruled a single, one of three to open the bottom of the
first inning as the Mariners took a 2-0 lead.
A costly error on shortstop Erick Aybar led to three more runs in
the second inning, all of them unearned. Aybar's two-out error
allowed James Jones to score while keeping the inning alive.
Saunders (triple) and Cano (infield single) added RBI hits.
Over seven innings, Skaggs (4-2) gave up seven hits and five runs,
but only two of the runs were earned. He had two walks and eight
strikeouts.
"After (the second inning), Tyler understood keeping us in the
game," Scioscia said. "He made pitches, got on a great streak and
pitched seven innings. But the damage was done early."
Two of Cano's three hits, and both of his RBIs, came in the first
two innings. Cano has 21 multiple-hit games this season.
"Having Robinson in the 3-spot every night puts fear into the
opposition," Saunders said. "He's lived up to everything we heard
about him."
NOTES: With his solo shot to open the seventh inning, Angels 1B
Albert Pujols has 506 home runs in his career, three shy of tying
Gary Sheffield for 24th on the all-time list. ... Mariners RHP
Brandon Maurer apparently will get another shot in the rotation. He
is listed as Thursday's starter despite a 6.99 ERA and losses in
each of his last three starts. ... The Mariners were facing a
left-handed starter for the fourth consecutive game. That streak is
expected to end Tuesday, when RHP Jered Weaver is scheduled to start
for the Angels against Seattle LHP Roenis Elias. ... Seattle stole
three bases in the second inning, with the first two runners
eventually coming around to score.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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