Angels struggle at the plate against red-hot Mariners in loss
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SEATTLE — Mitch Garver hit a go-ahead, solo home run in the seventh inning and the Seattle Mariners beat the Angels 2-1 on Friday night for their seventh straight win.
Garver turned on an elevated fastball from reliever Connor Brogdon (3-2) and hit it into the left-field bleachers for his ninth home run of the season. Seattle remained in a tie with the Houston Astros atop the AL West for a second straight night.
The Mariners (80-68) went in front in the fourth inning on a two-out, two-strike RBI double by Jorge Polanco. The switch-hitter kept his hands inside on a fastball from Yusei Kikuchi, cranking it to left to drive in Cal Raleigh, who doubled earlier in the inning.
Mike Trout ended his home run drought with a solo blast, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Seattle from winning 7-6 in 12 innings.
The Angels (69-79) were held scoreless until the top of the seventh inning, when Logan Davidson tied it with an RBI double off reliever Carlos Vargas (5-5).
After Garver’s homer in the bottom of the seventh, the Mariners’ bullpen made sure it stood, with Andrés Muñoz getting the last three outs for his 35th save of the season.
Key moment: In the sixth inning, right fielder Victor Robles robbed Angels cleanup hitter Taylor Ward of a double that would have likely scored two runs. Instead, the Angels were held scoreless until the seventh inning.
Key stat: Polanco has recorded a double in five consecutive games, tied for the longest active streak in the majors this season. It’s also the longest streak for a Mariners player since Raúl Ibañez from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2 in 2004.
Up next: Angels LHP Mitch Farris (1-0, 2.45 ERA) starts Saturday against Mariners RHP Bryan Woo (13-7, 3.02).
