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Figgins, Angels earn walk-off win against Mariners

Sep 14, 2008 - 11:38 PM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- A day after their closer set the single-season saves record, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had another reason to celebrate.

Sean Rodriguez hit a triple in the ninth inning and scored the winning run on a walk-off single by Chone Figgins as the Angels defeated the Seattle Mariners, 4-3, on Sunday.

Rodriguez laced a one-out base hit off the top of the wall in right field against Roy Corcoran (5-1) and cruised into third base with a triple. Figgins followed with a hit off the base of the wall in right-center to score the winning run.

"(I) just wanted to get a pitch that I could hit deep or just find a gap," Figgins said. "Once I hit it, I knew it was going to get the run in. It's always a great feeling when you can win the game from a walk-off hit."

The walk-off win comes just one day after Francisco Rodriguez recorded his 58th save, breaking Bobby Thigpen's 18-year-old record for saves in a season.

"It was a great homestand for us," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia, whose team finished off a 6-1 homestand. "We still have work to do because we want to get home field advantage. It gives us time to rest guys who are banged up a bit and give guys work out of the pen."

Los Angeles jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-RBI single by Kendry Morales to stake Ervin Santana to an early lead. Figgins singled to lead off the inning and, after Mark Teixeira walked one batter later, Morales drove a base hit to right field.

Seattle starter Felix Hernandez was able to settle down from there, pitching five consecutive scoreless innings to keep the Mariners close.

The Mariners were able to rally to tie the game against Santana. The Angels' righthander surrendered a run in the second on an RBI groundout by Bryan LaHair, then tied the game in the sixth on an RBI single by Jose Lopez, who had a pair of hits.

"They are the best team in the league for a reason," Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said. "(They) have a deep lineup and tough pitching. We played with them in every game this series, but just came up on the losing end."

Santana allowed two runs and six hits over seven innings of work. He walked one and struck out three.

The Angels regained the lead, 3-2, on a home run by Teixeira, his 30th of the season, in the bottom half of the sixth off Hernandez.

"I just got a pitch I could handle and made good contact," Teixeira said. "Thirty home runs is good, but I don't try to go out and hit home runs. I try to be patient and hit pitches I can handle."

The righthander allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings but did not factor in the decision. He issued four walks while striking out three.

"I didn't have my best stuff and struggled with my command but overall I gave us a shot to win," Hernandez said. "(I) just have to keep going out and pitching the way I know I can to give us a chance to win games."

After Scot Shields allowed the tying run in the eighth inning on an RBI single by LaHair, Jose Arredondo (9-2) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the win.