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Angels fall to Mariners, still two behind A's

Sep 27, 2012 - 11:46 PM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - John Jaso clubbed a two-run homer and added an RBI double during a four-run seventh inning, as the Seattle Mariners posted a 9-4 victory and dealt the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim a significant setback in their pursuit of a playoff spot.

Jesus Montero had two RBI for the Mariners, who avoided a three-game sweep. Hisashi Iwakuma (8-5) gave up two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits over six innings to improve to 3-0 in three career starts against the Angels.

"Hisashi threw the ball well and kept us in it," said Seattle manager Eric Wedge. "Putting that big inning together was good to see."

Dan Haren (12-12) allowed three runs -- two earned -- on six hits in 5 1/3 innings for Los Angeles, which had its winning streak snapped at five games.

The Angels are two games behind Oakland in the race for the AL's second wild card spot and wasted an opportunity to make up ground after the Texas Rangers beat the Athletics on Thursday.

Clinging to a 3-2 lead, the Mariners created a little separation with a four-run seventh.

Angels reliever Garrett Richards issued a bases-loaded walk to Trayvon Robinson after intentionally walking Dustin Ackley with one out. Kyle Seager contributed a run-scoring single, Montero lofted a sacrifice fly and Jaso doubled home Robinson. The inning began with back-to-back singles by Michael Saunders and Casper Wells.

The Angels got a two-run double from Howie Kendrick in the eighth, but Seattle countered with a pair in the ninth.

Ackley led off with an infield single and Robinson dropped down a bunt fielded by LaTroy Hawkins, who made an errant throw to first base. The reliever's misplay enabled Ackley to score and Robinson to advance to third before Montero brought him home with a one-out double.

"Our bullpen had a rough afternoon," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia.

A two-out error led to the Angels scoring the game's first run in the second. Erick Aybar reached on the bobble by the second baseman Ackley and swiped a base before scoring on Vernon Wells' single that deflected off the glove of Seager. The Seattle third baseman dove to his left, but was unable to stop the ball from rolling into the outfield.

Jaso's two-out, two-strike home run put the Mariners on top in the fourth, but Los Angeles tied the game in the home half on Alberto Callaspo's RBI single. The base hit followed a leadoff double by Kendrys Morales.

Seattle retook the lead in the fifth, taking advantage of an E6. With a runner on first and one out, Ackley hit a grounder that was fielded by the first baseman Morales. Morales' throw to second went off the glove of Aybar, allowing Ackley to reach and Wells, who led off with a single, to move to third. Wells then scored on a fielder's choice by Franklin Gutierrez, who was thrown out at home on a Seager double.

Game Notes

The Mariners have now homered in 16 straight games ... Gutierrez slammed shoulder-first into the wall in right-center in the bottom of the fifth after robbing Mike Trout of a hit. He wound up leaving the game an inning later, replaced in the lineup by Robinson ... The Angels wrapped up the home portion of the schedule with a 46-35 record.