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Mariners edge Angels

Jun 5, 2012 - 6:04 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Munenori Kawasaki went 2-for-3 with a three-run double and a walk as the Seattle Mariners knocked off the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 8-6, in the opener of a three-game set at Angel Stadium.

John Jaso finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, Miguel Olivo added two hits, an RBI and two runs scored and Kyle Seager smashed a solo home run and scored twice for the Mariners, who bounced back from dropping two of three to the Chicago White Sox over the weekend.

Jason Vargas (7-4) allowed four runs on nine hits and two walks to go with eight strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings to earn the win. Tom Wilhelmsen worked out of a jam in the eighth and finished it off in the ninth to earn his first career save.

"Santana has good stuff and our guys had good at-bats tonight," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "Jason was consistent. He left a few pitches up but he threw the ball well. It was a great performance by Tom. He got it done late."

Mike Trout finished 4-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, Kendrys Morales crushed a pair of solo homers, and Albert Pujols and Maicer Izturis added an RBI apiece for the Angels, who have dropped two straight.

Ervin Santana (2-7) allowed seven runs on eight hits and six walks with one strikeout in just 4 2/3 innings to absorb the loss.

"My command was a little off tonight," Santana said. "I'll erase this outing and go work on some things for the next one. I have to keep my mind positive and throw strikes."

Seattle got on the board first in its first at-bat when Seager blasted a fastball from Santana over the wall in straightaway center field for a solo shot, but the Angels got the run right back in the bottom half when Trout doubled to start the frame and scored on a sac-fly by Pujols.

Seattle regained the lead with a pair of runs in the third. Dustin Ackley, Seager and Justin Smoak all walked to load the bases with one out and Jaso followed with a single to bring home Ackley. Carp then grounded into a fielder's choice, which allowed Seager to score to give the M's a 3-1 advantage.

Los Angeles got within one in the fourth when Morales yanked a fastball from Vargas out over the left field wall to make it 3-2.

But Seattle extended its lead to 7-2 in the fifth. Jaso started the rally with a base hit to right and moved to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a single to left by Olivo. Michael Saunders was then intentionally walked to load the bags with two down and Kawasaki came up with a huge three-run double to put the Mariners comfortably ahead.

Morales clubbed his second homer of the game to lead off the sixth. Torii Hunter followed with a base hit and came around to score on a single by Trout later in the inning to make it a 7-4 game.

Saunders belted an RBI double to bring home Olivo in the seventh to make it a four-run game, but things got interesting in the eighth.

Howie Kendrick struck out to begin the frame, but reached on a dropped third strike. Erick Aybar then worked a walk against M's reliever Shawn Kelley and John Hester beat out an infield hit to load the bases with no outs.

Kendrick scored on a sacrifice fly by Trout before Izturis doubled to bring home Aybar and spell the end of the night for Kelley. Wilhelmsen came in and got Pujols to nub one out in front of the mound, which resulted in Hester being tagged out in a rundown, and then he fanned Mark Trumbo to preserve the lead.

Wilhelmsen came back out for the ninth and closed it out for the win.

Game Notes

It was Morales' seventh career multi-homer game. He hit a home run batting right-handed for the first time since April 25, 2010 against the New York Yankees...This was only the Mariners' fifth win in Los Angeles in their last 25 tries...It was Trout's first career four-hit game...Seattle was 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base, while the Angels finished 4-for-11 with men in scoring position and stranded 11.