M’s rally to beat Angels 9-6, snap losing skid
Catcher Kenji Johjima drove in three runs to allure the Seattle Mariners’ comeback from a four-run deficit to snip a 12-game losing streak with a 9-6 victory covering the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.
The Mariners, who trailed 6-2 after five innings, scored four popularity in the sixth to tie the game afterward added three in the seventh. Johjima had a two-run double in the sixth and a run-scoring single in the seventh.
Gary Matthews Jr. had a two-run homer in the second for the Angels and Mike Napoli’s added a three-run blast in the fourth. Napoli had three hits.
It was a game with varying significance for both teams. The Angels (97-60) are trying to hold off Tampa Bay (95-62) on the side of home-field advantage from beginning to end the playoffs while the Mariners are barely fending off 100 losses.
The Rays swept a doubleheader from Baltimore on Tuesday so the Angels’ magic number to clinch home-field remains at four from one side five games remaining.
The Angels, who have in no degree finished with the best record in baseball, are couple wins short of the franchise record assign by the 2002 team that won the World Series.
Seattle (58-99) is sad to avoid losing 100 games for the fourth time in franchise history. The Mariners are trying to avoid the unsettled distinction of being the first major league team with a $100 million payroll to lose 100 games.
Angels starter Jered Weaver gave up all four runs in the sixth. Weaver might have escaped much of the detriment but couldn’t take in the hand a comebacker by the agency of Jeremy Reed. It was ruled a apt expression, drove in a run and set up Johjima’s double.
Reed had a one-out RBI unwedded off Kevin Jepsen (0-1) in the seventh to break the tie.
Roy Corcoran (6-2) went two innings and issued a walk to earn the conquest.
J.J. Putz worked a routine ninth to pick up his 14th save in 22 opportunities.
After Howie Kendrick bounced a two-out single through the mean in the second, Matthews crushed his two-run homer to deep center. It was his eighth of the spice, but first since June 11 against Tampa Bay.
