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Mariners rout Angels

Sep 17, 2014 - 6:06 AM Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Taylor recorded two of Seattle's 14 hits and drove in three runs as the Mariners crushed the playoff-bound LA Angels of Anaheim, 13-2, on Tuesday.

The Mariners totaled 10 runs during a rough 1-5 stretch coming in, but solved their offensive woes against the Angels' bullpen -- specifically Jason Grilli (1-3) and Fernando Salas.

Austin Jackson, Dustin Ackley and Mike Zunino each had two RBI in the rout, which moved Seattle within one game of the Royals for the second wild-card spot in the AL.

"A game like this is what we needed for our confidence," Ackley said.

Carson Smith (1-0) earned his first big league win with two scoreless innings of relief behind injured starter Roenis Elias, who exited in the fourth with elbow stiffness.

The Angels clinched a postseason berth with a win in the opener of this four- game series on Monday, and despite losing for just the second time in 13 games, their magic number for clinching the AL West title was trimmed to two thanks to the Athletics losing to the Rangers on Tuesday.

Cory Rasmus tossed four innings of one-hit scoreless ball to start the Angels' bullpen by committee, but the rest of LA's relievers were not nearly as stingy as the Mariners broke out of their mini-slump by batting around in both the fifth and sixth innings.

"Cory did exactly what we wanted him to (but) he was gassed," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Rasmus.

Kendrys Morales worked a leadoff walk against Grilli, and Logan Morrison was hit by a pitch before Zunino doubled over Mike Trout's head to knock in both runners.

Taylor and Ackley both tacked on RBI doubles, and the Mariners extended their 4-2 lead with six runs in their next turn.

Endy Chavez and Jackson each singled in a run off Salas, and Ackley plated another with a sacrifice fly. Robinson Cano beat out an infield single to plate Zunino, and Chris Iannetta's throwing error allowed Jackson to score.

Kyle Seager capped the big frame with an RBI single.

Jackson's sac fly in the seventh and Taylor's two-run single in the ninth completed the scoring.

Elias plunked Kole Calhoun to open the first and gave up singles to three of the next four hitters, with Albert Pujols and David Freese each knocking in a run with their hits.

The Angels had just one hit over the final six frames.

Game Notes

The Mariners went 8-for-16 with runners in scoring position. They were hitless in 18 straight at-bats with RISP dating back to Saturday's game vs. the A's ... Seattle has not recorded a road loss in consecutive days since June 18-19 at San Diego ... Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton, playing in his first game since Sept. 4, went 1-for-3 ... Grilli and Salas combined to give up nine runs while recording just two outs ... Zunino was hit by a pitch twice, upping his season total to 17.