|
 Cron's solo shot in the eighth inning helped the Angels chip away
at an early four-run deficit, then he delivered the big hit with a
two-run, bases-loaded single in the top of the ninth inning for a
7-6 comeback win over the Seattle Mariners.
"We can use that momentum for the rest of the season," starter Nick
Tropeano said after the Angels rallied from a 5-1 deficit to end
their biggest slide of the season.
Los Angeles (14-21) rallied from a 5-1 deficit and eventually took
the lead on Cron's one-out bloop single to shallow right. Pinch
runner Shane Robinson came around from second base to score the
go-ahead run, giving Los Angeles its first lead since the top of the
fourth inning.
Afterward, Angels manager Mike Scioscia downplayed the significance
of the streak-ending victory.
"We won a game today," Scioscia said. "We weren't carrying any
thoughts of what happened last week. We won a game. That's it."
 Seattle (21-14) suffered its second blown save in as many games,
with closer Steve Cishek (2-2) giving up three singles and a walk
after inheriting a 6-5 lead going into the ninth. Six of the Angels'
seven runs came after Mariners starter Nathan Karns left the game in
the seventh.
"It's going to happen," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "As good
as our bullpen's been, I believe in them and we'll give them the
ball tomorrow night."
Los Angeles reliever Joe Smith (1-2) earned his first win of the
season, while Fernando Salas earned his first save since 2011 with a
scoreless bottom of the ninth.
The Angels avoided their first seven-game losing streak since 2010
with the win.
The Mariners (21-14) got solo home runs from Nelson Cruz and Chris
Iannetta and a bases-loaded triple from shortstop Ketel Marte that
gave them a 5-1 lead in the sixth.
Cron's solo homer in the eighth cut the lead to 6-4, then third
baseman Jefry Marte added an RBI double to pull the Angels within a
run.
Cishek, who had just one blown save in 12 opportunities heading into
Friday night, came on with a 6-5 lead in the ninth and gave up a
leadoff single to Kole Calhoun. Mike Trout grounded into a fielder's
choice, then designated hitter Albert Pujols singled to put runners
on first and second. Cishek then walked Daniel Nava, loading the
bases before the Mariners had a meeting on the mound. Cron made
contact on the first pitch, sending a blooper that fell just past
Seattle's Marte at shortstop and in front of left fielder Nori Aoki
for a single, bringing in Trout for the tying run from third before
Robinson easily beat the throw to score from second for the go-ahead
run.
"The bases were loaded, so I thought (Cishek) had to come and
challenge me with something right away, and he did," Cron said. "I
didn't get much of it, but I got enough."
Salas, filling in for injured closer Huston Street after Smith threw
20 pitches in the eighth, finished off the win with a 1-2-3 bottom
of the ninth.
"It was nice to win," Cron said. "We hit a rough patch where nothing
was going right, for some reason. It was a nice little comeback for
us, and we'll take it for sure."
[to top of second column] |
The Mariners, who had won their previous seven games that were
decided by one run, took a 2-1 lead on Cruz's solo home run in the
fifth, then Ketel Marte broke the game open with a bases-loaded
triple in the sixth. Marte hit a low fly ball into the gap, and the
Angels' Calhoun dove for the ball in right field, allowing all three
baserunners to score as Seattle pulled out to a 5-1 advantage.
The Angels' Calhoun had an RBI on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in
the seventh, pulling Los Angeles to within 5-2. Trout followed that
with a bloop double to right field, scoring Johnny Giavotella from
third base to cut the Seattle lead to 5-3. Albert Pujols then struck
out, stranding runners at second and third to end the top of the
seventh.
Iannetta, a former Angel, hit a two-out solo homer in the bottom of
the seventh to put the Mariners ahead 6-3.
Tropeano allowed two runs off five hits over five innings. He left
the game with the Angels trailing 2-1 before Los Angeles reliever
Jose Alvarez loaded the bases and served up the three-run triple to
Marte.
Seattle's bullpen gave up five hits and four runs while allowing two
inherited runners to score as well.
Karns allowed three runs off six hits over 6 1/3 innings for the
Mariners.
Ketel Marte's bases-loaded triple ended up being the Mariners' only
hit with runners in scoring position. Seattle went 1-for-12 while
leaving 11 runners on base.
Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager had doubles in two of his first
three at-bats but was left stranded on both occasions.
Second baseman Robinson Cano went 1-for-5 while extending his
hitting streak to 12 games with an eighth-inning triple.
Cruz gave the Mariners a 2-1 lead with his seventh home run of the
season, a solo shot in the fifth. Cruz hit the two-out home run to
right-center field for his first Safeco Field home run since April
11.
NOTES: RHP Jhoulys Chacin is scheduled to make his Angels debut
Saturday after being acquired from the Atlanta Braves earlier in the
week. Chacin (1-2, 5.40 ERA in five starts with Atlanta) was dealt
to Los Angeles for minor-league LHP Adam McCreery on Wednesday. ...
The last time the Mariners lost a series was April 11-13, when the
Rangers took two of three games from Seattle at Safeco Field. The
Mariners have won seven series -- two by way of sweeps -- since and
earned a four-game split. ... The last time the Angels have lost
more than six consecutive games was April 30-May 6, 2010, when they
had a seven-game losing streak. ... Entering Friday's game, the
Mariners had a 19-7 record since April 13. That matched the Chicago
Cubs for the best record in baseball over that span.
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