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Batista, Sexson key as Mariners avoid sweep

Apr 20, 2008 - 11:58 PM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Miguel Batista pitched well into the eighth inning and Richie Sexson homered as the Seattle Mariners avoided a three-game sweep with a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Sunday.

Ichiro Suzuki had an RBI triple and Jose Lopez drove in a run for the Mariners, who won for just the fourth time in the last 17 meetings here.

Gary Matthews Jr. had a two-run single for the Angels, who left the bases loaded in the ninth.

Sexson blasted a two-run homer - his fifth of the season - in the second off Angels starter Dustin Moseley.

"I have faced him (Moseley) before and noticed that he has good movement on his pitches that tail inside," Sexson said. "I was looking for something inside and got the pitch I was looking for."

Sexson's blast turned out to be all the support Batista needed. The righthander allowed eight hits in 7 2/3 innings. Batista (2-2) threw 71 of 110 pitches for strikes and finished with eight strikeouts and one walk.

Batista did not allow a runner past second base.

"I might have found something today that would have helped me years ago," Batista said. "It's a secret and just want to go out there and experience with it my next four or five starts."

While Batista was on his game, Moseley (1-2) struggled. The converted reliever allowed four runs and eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 4 2/3 innings.

"Just didn't have my best stuff," Moseley said. "I felt fine, they were just aggressive and hit the ball hard today." Seattle extended its lead to 4-0 in the fifth as Willie Bloomquist led off the frame with a single, and later scored on Ichiro's triple to right-center field. Lopez followed with an RBI single to center.

Those proved to be important runs as the Angels rallied in the ninth. Mark Lowe, who is serving as the Mariners' closer, entered in the ninth and promptly walked the first two men he faced.

Lowe's struggles continued as he issued a two-out walk to Chone Figgins and exited after allowing a two-run single to Matthews. Brandon Morrow walked Vladimir Guerrero to load the bases, but Ryan Roland-Smith struck out Garret Anderson looking to end it.

"I knew he (Anderson) was going to be aggressive, so I just wanted to go after him and make him earn it," Rowland-Smith said. "We were shut down offensively today, until late in the game," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We made it a little exciting in the ninth but came up short."