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Smith and Walker lead Mariners to 10-1 win over Angels

Sep 15, 2015 - 6:43 AM SEATTLE (AP) The Los Angeles Angels were looking to put a disappointing loss behind them. They're still looking.

Seth Smith homered and Taijuan Walker pitched seven dominant innings to pace the Seattle Mariners to a 10-1 victory over the Angels on Monday night, dropping Los Angeles four games back in the AL wild card race.

''The losses don't feel any different now than any other time of the year, but we don't have our heads buried in the sand, '' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ''We know what we need to do, but it's there for us.''

Los Angeles, coming off a 5-3 loss Sunday when Houston scored five runs after two out in the ninth, is four games behind New York and Texas, and three games behind Minnesota. The Yankees, Rangers and Twins all won Monday night. Cleveland also won to move within a half-game of the Angels.

''We're not that far away from being that team that can on a streak and that is what we are going to work towards,'' Scioscia said.

Smith's two-run homer keyed a three-run second as the Mariners erased a 1-0 deficit. Seattle broke it open with six runs in the seventh to make it 10-1.

Walker (11-8) allowed one run on four hits, striking out seven with no walks. Garrett Richards (13-11) gave up four runs on five hits in six innings.

''You go into every game with one mentality and that is tow win a ballgame and give us a chance to win,'' Richards said. ''I don't think anyone on this staff thinks about what the offense is doing. We have one job to do and that is keep runs off the board and tonight we didn't do it.'

The game was the first of a 10-game road trip for the Angels, who fell to 28-40 on the road. The defending AL West champs play at Minnesota and Houston to close out the trip.

Smith's 11th home run followed a leadoff walk to Robinson Cano and put the Mariners up 2-1. Mark Trumbo then reached on an infield single and advanced on Logan Morrison's comebacker to the mound. Shawn O'Malley followed with another infield single. Trumbo then scored on a wild pitch.

''We bounced right back and scored a couple and then the ability to add on against a real tough pitcher,'' Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said ''And, he didn't have his best stuff tonight. His command was off, but we still had some pretty good at-bats.''

The Mariners added a run in the fifth. Nelson Cruz drew a two-out walk, Cano singled and Smith doubled off the wall in center.

Seattle sent 11 hitters to the plate in the seventh, getting six hits and a hit batter. Cano, Trumbo and Ketel Marte each had run-scoring doubles.

''You pay attention now to things that were academic back in May, June, July,'' Scioscia said. ''Obviously, there is a more finite amount of games you are looking at.''

The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the second when David Murphy and C.J. Cron opened with consecutive singles and Murphy came home when Erick Aybar bounced into a double play.

UP NEXT:

Angels: Right-hander Nick Tropeano (1-2, 5.66 ERA) makes his fifth start this season and second since being recalled Sept. 1 from Triple-A Salt Lake. Allowed three runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings in his last start.

Mariners: Felix Hernandez (17-8 , 3.49 ERA) has won his last three starts, pitching eight innings each time. In his last start, allowed just three hits in eight scoreless innings against Texas. The right-hander's 17 victories are the second-most in his career (19 in 2009).

TRAINING ROOM:

Angels: RHP Matt Shoemaker, sidelined with a right forearm strain, is scheduled to be evaluated after throwing on Tuesday, manager Mike Scioscia said. ''He'll throw a sim game tomorrow,'' Scioscia said. ''We'll have to see where he is. Two innings.'' 2B Johnny Giavotella, out three weeks with a vision problem, has been cleared to resume batting practice on Tuesday. Scioscia was not sure if, or when, Giavotella might return. ''First and foremost, Johnny has to go through the paces to make sure that he's healthy. And, that's not going to involve only some batting practice, but about getting out here, getting aggressive in pregame, probably seeing some live pitching.''

Mariners: IF-OF Brad Miller, a late scratch Sunday with neck spasms, was not in the starting lineup. ''He's still not there yet,'' manager Lloyd McClendon said. ''Pinch run, maybe.'' Miller pinch ran in the seventh and then stayed in the game at second base.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW: Mike Trout was called safe diving back into first base on a pickoff attempt by Walker with two outs in the third. The Mariners challenged and the call was overturned after an estimated review of 1:59.

BANDY'S DEBUT: Angels catcher Jett Bandy made his major-league debut as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning.