Recap: Seattle vs. LA Angels
Sports Network | September 23, 2008
Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Kenji Johjima collected three hits and knocked in three runs, as the Seattle Mariners snapped a season-high 12-game losing streak with a 9-6 victory over the Angels in the second test of a four-game set at Safeco Field.
Yuniesky Betancourt went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs for Seattle, which won for the first time since September 10. Jeremy Reed and Wladimir Balentien both had two RBI.
Ryan Feierabend was tagged for five runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. Sean Green allowed a run in 2 1/3 innings of relief and Roy Corcoran (6-2) tossed two scoreless frames to get the win.
Mike Napoli clubbed a three-run homer and Gary Matthews added a two-run shot for the Angles, who own a two-game lead over the surprising Tampa Bay Rays in the race for home-field advantage in the upcoming playoffs.
Jered Weaver gave up six runs on nine hits and struck out eight over 5 2/3 innings, while Kevin Jepsen (0-1) took the loss after he was touched for three runs -- two earned -- in two-thirds of an inning.
Vladimir Guerrero hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth for a 6-2 Angels advantage, but the Mariners answered with four runs in the bottom half. Raul Ibanez, Jose Lopez and Reed stroked three consecutive singles with one away to plate a run. Balentien then ripped an RBI double to center and, after Matt Tuiasosopo was called out on strikes, Johjima lined a two-run double to the gap in right- center.
Seattle then forged ahead with three runs in the seventh. Betancourt had a leadoff single and Ibanez walked before Reed's one-out base hit drove in the go-ahead run. Justin Speier replaced Jepsen and Erick Aybar's fielding error on a ball hit by Balentien allowed Ibanez to scamper home. Johjima added an RBI single later in the frame for a 9-6 Mariners lead.
J.J. Putz retired the Halos in order in the ninth to notch his 14th save of the season and 100th of his career.
Matthews' eighth home run of the season gave the Angels a 2-0 lead in the second, but the Mariners evened the score in the third on a two-run single by Betancourt.
Los Angeles, though, countered in the fourth on Napoli's three-run bomb to straight-away center, which followed a leadoff single by Howie Kendrick and a walk to Matthews.
Napoli's homer upped his season total to 19...The 12-game skid was the club's longest losing streak since a franchise-record 14-game slide from September 2-18, 1992...Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a double in the third...The Angels had a five-game winning streak snapped...Los Angeles left nine men on base, while the Mariners stranded seven.
