Angels keep pace in AL wild-card race; Mariners eliminated
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Johnny Giavotella turned an ordinary single into a double through pure hustle. Moments later, Kole Calhoun drove in the tiebreaking run with a drive that clipped a Seattle glove on the way to the outfield.
Although the Los Angeles Angels are still outside the playoff picture with a week left in the regular season, they plan to keep charging headlong into October until they run out of games.
Calhoun put the Angels ahead in the eighth inning, Mike Morin earned his first big-league save and Los Angeles completed a sweep of the Mariners with its fifth consecutive victory overall, 3-2 Sunday.
David Freese homered in the fifth for the Angels (81-74), who remained a half-game behind Houston (82-74) for the second AL wild card. With eight wins in 10 games overall, Los Angeles also moved three games behind the AL West-leading Rangers (84-71), with four games in Texas to end the season.
"Every game is crucial," Calhoun said. "Somebody has got to step up in every single game, and that's what I had to do down the stretch."
Calhoun's single drove in pinch-runner Taylor Featherston after Giavotella led off the eighth by scrambling to second base when center field Brad Miller was slow to throw the ball back.
"We never know where Johnny is going to end up," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Hisashi Iwakuma (9-5) yielded eight hits over 7 1/3 innings, but Carson Smith replaced him and gave up Calhoun's drive, which barely eluded first baseman Jesus Montero.
"We were trying to get a ground ball or a strikeout," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. "(Smith) has had success against him. We got the ground ball, but we just didn't put a glove on it."
Morin filled in splendidly for AL saves leader Huston Street, who injured his groin Saturday night.
Pinch-hitter Mark Trumbo hit a tying homer off Fernando Salas (5-2) in the eighth inning for the Mariners (74-82), who lost their final five road games to guarantee their fifth losing season in six years. Seattle was formally eliminated from playoff contention during the game when Houston won.
Jered Weaver pitched five innings of four-hit ball before leaving with shoulder tightness in the final regular-season home start of his worst season in a decade in the Angels' rotation.
Los Angeles had to rely on a bullpen missing its top two relievers after Street joined Joe Smith with late-season injuries, but Salas made the relievers' only big mistake on a hanging slider to Trumbo.
The Anaheim-area native and former Angels slugger hit a line drive that clipped the top of the fence but the ball was traveling too fast for Mike Trout to have a chance to repeat Saturday's mind-boggling catch above the wall.
"I've really hated it," Trumbo said of pinch hitting. "But I've gotten a little bit better. That's a tough spot to go in."
NO REVENGE
Nothing happened in the first meeting between Weaver and Kyle Seager since their confrontation in Seattle last week. Weaver, angered by Seager's delay tactics in the batter's box, exchanged harsh words and then plunked Seager, leading to Weaver's ejection and Seager's declaration that the longtime ace quit on his team. Seager, booed all weekend in Anaheim, flied out in the first and doubled in the fourth, getting the Mariners' first hit.
TAKE TWO
Angels catcher Carlos Perez threw out two Mariners on the basepaths in the fifth, catching Logan Morrison stealing before picking off John Hicks from second base.
BIG SHOT
Freese followed up his walk-off homer on Saturday night with his 13th shot, building on a strong finish to two middling seasons with the Angels. The third baseman will be a free agent this winter.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners: James Paxton could start Wednesday if his torn fingernail has healed sufficiently.
Angels: After the game, Street said the results of his MRI exam were "very positive," although he is unlikely to pitch again in the regular season. He hopes to return later in October if the Angels make the postseason.
UP NEXT
Mariners: The Angels will be rooting for Roenis Elias (5-8, 3.94 ERA) when he takes the Safeco mound against Houston.
Angels: All-Star Hector Santiago (9-9, 3.47 ERA) takes the mound for the opener of their final home series against Oakland.
