Recap: Seattle vs. LA Angels
Sports Network | September 24, 2008
Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Mark Teixeira's solo home run in the eighth inning was the difference as the Los Angeles Angels downed the Seattle Mariners, 6-5, in the third test of a four-game set at Safeco Field.
Teixeira finished with four hits and Sean Rodriguez added a two-run double for the Angels, whose magic number to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs is down to three.
Jon Garland allowed five runs on 11 hits in five innings of work. Darren Oliver (7-1) tossed two scoreless frames to get the win.
Jose Lopez, Jeremy Reed and Bryan LaHair each had two hits and knocked in a run for Seattle, which recorded its fourth 100-loss campaign in franchise history and first since 1983. Yuniesky Betancourt collected three hits and scored twice.
Felix Hernandez was touched for five runs -- four earned -- on 13 hits over six innings. Mark Lowe (1-5) took the loss after he surrendered the home run to Teixeira.
Trailing 5-2, the AL West champions rallied with three runs in the sixth. Erick Aybar led off with a ground-rule double and Mike Napoli walked before Rodriguez ripped a two-run double to center. Chone Figgins followed with a single and Garret Anderson grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to force in the tying run.
Teixeira's two-out blast to right in the eighth gave the visitors a 6-5 lead. Scot Shields wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the next frame, and Francisco Rodriguez worked around a two-out hit by Reed in the ninth to notch his 62nd save, extending his MLB record.
Lopez doubled to the gap in left-center scoring Betancourt in the first inning, but the Angels answered with two runs in the top of the second. Torii Hunter lined a leadoff double, advanced to third on a Kendry Morales groundout and scampered home on Aybar's base hit. A passed ball by Kenji Johjima later in the frame allowed Aybar to score. Seattle, though, evened the score in the home half on Miguel Cairo's RBI single.
The Mariners put up a three-spot in the fifth to pull ahead. Betancourt doubled to begin the inning and Raul Ibanez walked before Lopez grounded into a fielder's choice. On the play, Aybar's low throw handcuffed Teixeira at first, allowing Betancourt to cross the plate. Following a wild pitch, Reed slapped an RBI double to center, and later scored on a two-out hit by LaHair.
In the top of the fifth inning, Vladimir Guerrero hit a line drive down the left-field line that was originally ruled foul. The play was reviewed and the call stood...Johjima left the game in the bottom of the eighth inning after being hit on the right wrist by a pitch...The Angels left 11 men on base, while Seattle stranded 10.
