Angels 6 - 3 Mariners
Final
  for this game

Mariners start up series with rival Angels

Jun 13, 2011 - 2:36 PM (Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners look to further bury the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the American League West standings when the division rivals start up a three-game series at Safeco Field.

The Mariners, who sit just 1 1/2 games back of the Texas Rangers in the AL West, have been one of the better teams in baseball over the last month thanks in part to their play at home, where they have won 10 of their last 13.

Seattle returns to its ballpark tonight after earning a split in its four-game set in Detroit on Sunday to complete a seven-game road trip. In fact the Mariners will be home for 15 of their next 18 games.

"We've been grinding," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. "It's going to be good to get back home. We're getting into a regular stretch now with the off-days, which could be a separator for us."

In yesterday's finale, Miguel Olivo collected his fourth career multi-home run game with a solo shot and a two-run blast to lift Seattle to a 7-3 win. Justin Smoak added a two-run homer and finished with three RBI for the Mariners, who concluded the trek 3-4.

Seattle ace Felix Hernandez (7-5) gave up two early runs but was in shutdown mode the rest of his eight-inning outing. He ended up allowing three runs on nine hits and five walks while striking out six.

One of the big reasons for the Mariners' jump in the standings heads to the hill tonight in left-hander Jason Vargas, who is 4-3 with a 3.94 earned run average. Vargas has won four of his last five decisions, but did not get a decision on Wednesday in Chicago, as the White Sox reached him for three runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 frames.

Vargas, who has allowed one run or less in four of his last seven starts, tossed seven scoreless innings to beat the Halos back on May 18 and is 3-2 against them with a 2.12 ERA in eight games (seven starts).

Los Angeles, meanwhile, has struggled mightily of late and lost two of three to Kansas City over the weekend, falling 9-0 in Sunday's capper.

Tyler Chatwood (3-4) lasted only 3 2/3 innings in defeat for LA, giving up five runs on five hits while fanning five and walking three. Erick Aybar doubled for the only extra-base hit for the Angels, who have lost nine of their last 11 games, tallying three runs or less in 10 of those contests.

Hoping to get back in the win column tonight, the Angels turn to right-hander Dan Haren, who has lost two of his last three starts. Haren fell for the fourth time in his last five decisions on Tuesday against Tampa Bay, as he allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings to fall to 5-4 on the year to go along with a 2.41 ERA.

Haren did not get a decision against the Mariners back on May 19 despite allowing just a run in eight innings. He is 7-4 lifetime against them with a 2.44 ERA in 15 starts.

While the Mariners will be beginning a lengthy home stretch, the Angels start a stretch tonight that will see them play 12 straight games on the road, where they are 16-16 on the season.

"It's on the schedule, so we play the games. It's not a matter of where or who we play, but how we play," Angels skipper Mike Scioscia said. "We have a lot of things in-house to take care of without worrying about other teams."

After losing 15 of their 19 matchups to the Angels last season, the Mariners swept a two-game set from the Halos from May 18-19.






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