Final/11
Mariners face must-win situation with Angels
Sep 27, 2014 - 1:53 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Seattle Mariners are still alive in the wild card chase and will try to stay on track Saturday against the LA Angels of Anaheim in the second test of a three-game series at Safeco Field.The Mariners are two games behind the Oakland Athletics for the second wild card berth and must win out in order to have a chance. The Athletics must lose their final two games and Seattle has to sweep the Angels to force an extra game with Oakland. The winner would then play in the AL Wild Card.
Seattle posted a 4-3 win over the Halos on Friday night and opened a 3-0 lead in the second inning thanks to a solo homer from Kendrys Morales and a two-run shot by Michael Saunders. Dustin Ackley also went deep and Hisashi Iwakuma pitched his way to victory with 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball. The two runs were solo homers by Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun.
"He kept the ball down in the zone for the most part," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said of Iwakuma after his club's second straight win following a five-game slide. "He made two bad pitches and they took advantage of it."
Fernando Rodney came on in the ninth for his 48th save.
Trying to keep Seattle's slim postseason aspirations alive will be James Paxton. Paxton draws the start and is 6-4 with a 3.16 earned run average. He has lost two straight and three of four appearances, and lasted only 2 2/3 innings in Monday's 14-4 bashing at the hands of Toronto, charged with nine runs (8 earned) and seven hits.
Paxton lost to the Angels on Sept. 17, when he was reached for three runs in 6 2/3 innings of a 5-0 decision. The left-hander is 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA in three career starts against the Angels and unbeaten (3-0) in four home starts.
The Angels gained something in Friday's defeat and captured homefield advantage throughout the playoffs after Baltimore lost to Toronto. The American League won the All-Star Game, which also gives the Angels homefield in the World Series if they were to make it that far.
Anaheim ace Jered Weaver allowed four runs and nine hits over six innings to absorb the loss in his final start of the regular season.
"I think it's a good thing to get a bad one out of my system," Weaver said.
Trout and Calhoun provided the home runs, while Howie Kendrick finished with two of the Angels' seven hits.
The Angels have lost five of eight games and will send left-hander C.J. Wilson to the mound Saturday. Wilson is 13-10 with a 4.61 ERA and was aiming for a fourth straight victory until Monday's 8-4 loss at Oakland, where he gave up six runs -- four earned -- in just two-thirds of an inning. He walked four and did not register a strikeout.
Wilson was coming off seven shutout innings against the Mariners and is 15-8 with a 3.59 ERA in 57 games (20 starts) lifetime in this series. In 15 starts on the road this season, Wilson is 4-8 with a 5.62 ERA.
Seattle is 10-7 against the Angels this season.
- LOS ANGELES: 1
SEATTLE: 2
Final/11
Sep 28 1:09 AM - Austin Jackson grounded into a fielder's choice, second to short scoring Brad Miller to end the game.
Angels 1, Mariners 2 Bot 11, 2 OutsSep 28 1:07 AM - Logan Morrison doubled to right center scoring Kyle Seager with none out. Runner on second and Chris Denorfia due up.
Angels 1, Mariners 1 Bot 7, 0 OutsSep 27 11:16 PM - C.J. Cron singled to third scoring David Freese with two outs. On the play, Chris Iannetta advances to second. Runners on first and second and Collin Cowgill due up.
Angels 1, Mariners 0 Top 2, 2 OutsSep 27 9:33 PM - LOS ANGELES: 0
SEATTLE: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 27 9:11 PM
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