ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Seattle manager Scott Servais last weekend saw Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout become the first player in MLB history to hit four game-winning home runs in a single series against his Mariners pitching staff.
With Trout coming up as the potential tying run in the eighth inning on Friday-evening, he wasn’t about to make another error.
On a night when Trout already homered and drove in two runs, Servais intentionally walked the three-time AL MVP with one out and an 1-0 count in the eighth. Trout was left behind when Andres Muñoz struckout Shohei Ohtani and Jared Walsh, and the Mariners held on to a 4-3 victory.
“That would have been a bad decision. We’ve learned a bit,” Servais said of the decision in the late game. “Andres did a good job around the edges, and when we fell behind in the count, he put him on base and let the other two guys try to get us.”
Julio Rodríguez homered and scored twice, Eugenio Suárez had three hits and an RBI, and Seattle won for the fourth time in a row.
Jesse Winker also had three hits while Chris Flexen (3-8) went five-plus innings and registered his first win since May 27.
Trout had a solo shot in the fourth inning – his sixth homer against the Mariners this season – and an RBI triple in the sixth. But for the most part, Servais was happy with the way they limited the damage Trout could do.
“He homered, but there was no one on base, which was huge,” Servais said.
Rodriguez lined a curveball from Oliver Ortega just inside the left field foul post with one out in the fourth for a solo shot to extend Seattle’s lead to 3-0. He scored the Mariners’ first run on a single by Suarez off of Michael Lorenzen (6-5) in the first.
Suarez had two doubles and gave Seattle a 4-1 lead in the sixth when he came home on Taylor Trammell’s goal.
Paul Sewald retired the Angels in a row in the ninth for his sixth save in eight chances.
Forel took all of the Angels’ runs into account. His homer in the fourth inning that made the Angels 3-1 was his 22nd this season, tying for second place in the majors. It was also the 53rd of his career against Seattle, making him the most past Rafael Palmeiro against the Mariners.
Trout added an RBI triple in the sixth inning when rookie midfielder Rodriguez misread the liner and let it go over his head before it rolled into the wall. Trout scored on Ohtani’s grounder to draw the Angels within a run.
“I don’t know if there is a center fielder who makes that game. How do you defend it? It took another gear and a left turn,” said Angels manager Phil Nevin.
FOR STARTERS
Flexen gave up three runs on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks. It was the first time in 13 games that a Seattle starter has allowed more than two runs.
Lorenzen toiled three innings. The righthander gave up two runs on four hits and also walked. He struckout five but faced 18 batters. It is the first time in nine years that a starter of Halos has thrown at least 85 pitches in the first three innings.
CENTURY MARK
Trout has 100 extra-base hits of his career against Seattle (36 doubles, 11 triples, 53 home runs), the most against the Mariners. Palmeiro and Trout were tied with 98 on Friday.
WALK THIS SIDE
Trout drew his 112th intentional walk in the eighth inning, tying him to Vladimir Guerrero for the most in franchise history.
A LOT OF TRAFFIC
The Mariners went down in order all night, leaving 16 runners on base. The last time they stranded that much was on September 18, 2012, against Baltimore.
Seattle, which was 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position, left the bases loaded in the third and eighth inning.
A LITTLE REVENGE
Justin Upton, who was released from spring training after more than four seasons with the Angels, had an RBI-single in the third inning to extend Seattle’s lead to 2-0.
TRAINERS ROOM
Mariners: 1B Ty France underwent an MRI on his left arm. He was dropped from the lineup after being involved in a collision during Thursday’s game in Oakland. France took the throw to the bag when he collided with Oakland’s Sheldon Neuse.
MOVE ROSTER
The angels appointed OR Juan Lagares for the assignment and summoned OF Monte Harrison. Lagares re-signed with the Angels on May 8, hitting .183 in 20 games.
NEXT ONE
Mariners: RHP Logan Gilbert (7-3, 2.28 ERA) is fourth in the AL and seventh in the majors in ERA.
Angels: LHP Patrick Sandoval (3-2, 2.70 ERA) gave up one run on four hits in six innings against the Mariners last Saturday.
†
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports