Mariners 5 - 6 Angels
Final
  for this game

Mariners and Angels clash in rubber match

Jul 20, 2014 - 2:19 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will play the rubber match of an intense three-game series Sunday afternoon at Angels Stadium before the Mariners return home for a seven-game stretch.

Veteran Chris Young will get the starting nod for Seattle, while youngster Tyler Skaggs will try to push his pitching record above the .500 mark in an effort to help the Angels win.

Young comes into the matchup with an 8-6 record and a 3.15 earned run average. He'll try to end a personal two-game losing streak that started before the All-Star break.

In his last start, Young pitched six innings into a game against Oakland and surrendered three runs on five hits. He could only strike out two batters as the Athletics tagged him with the loss in the 4-1 Oakland victory.

Against the Angels in his career, Young is 4-3 in nine starts with a lofty 5.65 ERA. He's given up 30 runs (27 earned) in 43 innings pitched against the Halos.

Skaggs, who just turned 23 last week, takes the mound with a 5-5 record and a 4.50 ERA. In 15 starts for the Angels this season, the lefty has accumulated 69 strikeouts and 26 walks.

He was able to put a stop to a personal four-game skid with his last start, a 10-7 Angels victory over Texas. Skaggs still allowed six runs on seven hits through just five innings, but Los Angeles provided him the offense necessary for the win.

Skaggs has started one game against Seattle in his career, and is 0-1 with eight strikeouts and two walks. At home this year, he's 1-2 with a 5.53 ERA, and opponents are batting .310 against Skaggs.

Following a 16-inning bout Friday night, the Mariners and Angels needed extra innings once again Saturday to decide a winner. This time it was Seattle that came away on top, 3-2, after 12 frames.

Two 11-game winners took the mound Saturday, as Mariners ace Felix Hernandez lasted seven innings and allowed two hits with one unearned run, while Garrett Richards went eight innings of three-hit ball and surrendered just one run to lead the Angels. Neither earned a decision in the battle.

"I knew it was a tough matchup against Richards. He's been hot for a while," Hernandez said. "I just wanted to go out and compete and make my team win. You've just got to make pitches and try to get people out."

Jesus Sucre drove in the first run of the game for the Mariners in the sixth inning, but Los Angeles knotted the score in the seventh on an infield single by Howie Kendrick, and a throwing error allowed Albert Pujols to come home for the tying run.

In the 12th, Seattle scored twice thanks to an RBI double from Logan Morrison and an infield single by Justin Smoak. David Freese put the Angels down 3-2 by sending a solo homer to center, but the full comeback couldn't be completed.

Mike Trout, who scored the winning run Friday night, was held to a 1-for-5 performance in the batter's box. Entering the contest, Trout led the American League in both total bases and on-base plus slugging.

The loss for the Angels snaps a six-game win streak, and moves the Mariners slightly closer toward LA for second place in the AL West.






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