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Callaspo hits slam, Angels beat Mariners

May 27, 2012 - 4:28 AM Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Alberto Callaspo hit a pinch-hit grand slam to lead the LA Angels of Anaheim to a 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners in the third game of a four-game set.

Albert Pujols had a solo home run while Mark Trumbo added three hits and a run scored for the Angels, who have won five straight. Jerome Williams (5-2) pitched six innings and gave up three runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts to win for a fifth time in his past six decisions.

Justin Smoak hit a solo home run and Mike Carp and Dustin Ackley each drove in a run for the Mariners, who have dropped four of five. Felix Hernandez (4-4) was charged with all five runs on 10 hits over six innings in the loss.

"I'm still disappointed with the overall approach (offensively)," said Seattle manager Eric Wedge. "We're taking too many fastballs. At times we're getting a little bit too picky with two strikes."

The game remained scoreless until the fourth when Pujols led off the frame with his seventh homer of the season and third in as many games.

The Mariners took the lead back in the fifth on a pair of RBI singles from Carp and Ackley to take a 2-1 lead.

The Angels, though, answered in a big way in the sixth. Trumbo, Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar all singled to load the bases. After Kole Calhoun struck out, Callaspo came on to pinch hit for Bobby Wilson and smacked an 0-1 pitch over the right field fence for a 5-2 lead.

"It was a chance for us to, at least, tie the game and I thought we had a better chance with Alberto up there and he got a pitch to hit and he hit it hard," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia.

Smoak hit a two-out, solo homer in the sixth to get Seattle back to within two.

Jordan Walden started the seventh on the mound for the Angels and walked Carp to start the inning. He then struck out Brendan Ryan and Ackley. Scott Downs then came out and walked Michael Saunders, but then got Ichiro Suzuki to groundout back to the mound.

Downs gave up a leadoff single to Kyle Seager in the eighth, but then struck out the next two batters before Ernesto Frieri struck out Miguel Olivo to end the inning.

Frieri stayed on for the ninth and gave up a one-out walk, but then retired the next two batters for his second save of the season.

Game Notes

Pujols' home run was the 452nd of his career, tying him with Carl Yastrzemski for 34th place all-time...Since coming to the Angels from San Diego, Frieri has not given up a run or hit over 10 appearances and 10 innings. He has struck out 22 batters in that times and has issued just seven walks...Hector Noesi pitches in the finale on Sunday for Seattle while C.J. Wilson will help Anaheim go for the sweep.