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 "It's just kind of funny," catcher Chris Iannetta said
when asked what it was like to finally be back in first place for
the first time since April 18. "After listening to a lot of the
questions we've had all year.
"It could be a good thing, or it could turn out to be a bad thing.
You never know. We'll see what happens after 162."
The Angels' Andrew Heaney outdueled the Mariners' Taijuan Walker in
a battle of two of the top young starting pitchers in the American
League, throwing seven scoreless innings. Heaney (3-0) allowed and
struck out six to earn his third win in four starts this season. The
24-year-old former Miami Marlin has yet to allow more than two runs
in a start since making his American League debut June 24.
"I want to prove myself as being capable, of being a competitor who
can help this team," Heaney said. "Other than that, I just want to
pitch well."
Heaney used inning-ending strikeouts to get out of jams in the
second and fifth inning.
"Throughout the day, whenever I really needed a punchout or a really
good pitch, I felt like I could do it," he said.
Heaney has put together four solid starts while filling in for
injured veteran Jered Weaver, meaning the Angels might have a tough
decision to make when their Opening Day starter comes off the
disabled list. The left-handed rookie has a 1.32 ERA.
Los Angeles (48-40) surpassed the Astros to take over first place in
the division standings. The Angels led the AL West just three days
before Sunday, having gone nearly three months without being in
first place. Los Angeles overtook the struggling Astros, who are now
a half-game back at 49-42. The Angels were six games behind Houston
after the games of June 3.
"We're playing well," manager Mike Scioscia said after the Angels
wrapped up a 7-2 road trip, "but there's a long way to go (in the
season) and we want to focus on getting better."
Seattle (41-48) had three errors in what manager Lloyd McClendon
called "our worst game of the year."
The Mariners have played 13 games in July and have yet to put
together a two-game streak -- of wins or losses -- this month.
"I've given my team a lot of (rope)," McClendon said of the
frustrating first 89 games. "It's not working. We're going to change
things. ... You try to stay positive and energize your club, but
maybe it takes a different kind of prodding."
Angels third baseman David Freese had two doubles, including a
two-run hit off the top of the wall that broke the game open in the
Angels' six-run sixth. Catcher Chris Iannetta added a two-run homer
to cap the inning, giving Los Angeles a 9-0 lead.
Seattle's Walker (7-7) gave up seven hits and seven runs -- six
earned -- and hurt his cause with a run-scoring throwing error in
the sixth inning. He came out after the first four batters of the
sixth reached base, having thrown 87 pitches over five-plus innings
while striking out seven.
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Walker struggled in each of his past two outings, allowing 11 earned
runs over 11 innings, after winning five consecutive starts in June
and early July.
The Angels jumped out to a 3-0 lead, thanks in part to some sloppy
defense by Seattle, before the six-run sixth blew the game open.
The first Los Angeles run, in the second inning, came when a Matt
Joyce ground ball went through the legs of Seattle second baseman
Robinson Cano. The Angels took a 2-0 lead on a wild pitch. Two
throwing errors by Walker led to two more runs before Freese broke
the game open with a two-run double off the top of the wall in
right-center for a 6-0 lead in the sixth.
Three batters later, after rookie lefty David Rollins came on to
replace Walker, Iannetta hit his fifth homer of the season to put
the Angels ahead 9-0.
Seattle finally got on the board after Heaney came out, scoring on
an RBI groundout from pinch hitter Dustin Ackley and an RBI single
from third baseman Kyle Seager in the eighth. Pinch hitter Seth
Smith added a solo homer in the ninth.
The Angels had 14 hits in the win, and they outscored opponents
65-30 during the 10-game road trip.
NOTES: The Mariners optioned RHP Danny Farquhar to Triple-A Tacoma
after the game. ... Angels LHP Hector Santiago was added to the
American League All-Star team Sunday. He will replace Oakland RHP
Sonny Gray, who pitched Sunday and won't be eligible to throw in
Tuesday's All-Star Game. ... Seattle LF Franklin Gutierrez was a
late scratch because of a stiff back. DH Jesus Montero replaced him
in the lineup, while Mark Trumbo moved into left field. ... The
Angels have two All-Star Game starters (OF Mike Trout and 1B Albert
Pujols) for the first time since 2003 (3B Troy Glaus and OF Garret
Anderson). ... After the All-Star break, Los Angeles will begin a
10-day homestand with a Friday game against the Red Sox. The
Mariners will kick off an East Coast road trip with a three-game
series against the New York Yankees.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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