ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — For the second night in a row, the Seattle Mariners rallied late to tie the game — only to see the Los Angeles Angels pull out a victory in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Carson Smith gave up a game-winning double to Johnny Giavotella in a 4-3 loss Wednesday, after the Mariners scratched across a run in the top half with pinch-hitter Dustin Ackley’s sacrifice fly against Angels closer Huston Street.
The night before, Carlos Perez punctuated his major league debut with a ninth-inning homer off Dominic Leone, handing the Mariners a 5-4 defeat.
“It is frustrating that we couldn’t come away with a victory,” Seattle outfielder Justin Ruggiano said. “But you can’t really sulk about it. It’s a long season, and it’s sure to turn around pretty soon. I mean, we haven’t been clicking on all cylinders by any means.”
Smith (0-2) walked David Freese to open the ninth, and pinch-runner Taylor Featherston was forced at second on Erick Aybar’s hard bunt to third baseman Kyle Seager. Giavotella then drove a 1-0 pitch into the right-field corner.
“It’s very exciting for us to get two big wins against a Seattle team that’s as good as they are,” said Giavotella, who won the second base job in spring training after Howie Kendrick was traded to the Dodgers. “It was big for us, especially since we got off to such a slow start to the season. Hopefully we can keep it rolling.”
The last-place Mariners ended a 10-game road trip with their sixth loss in seven games — but at least they’re playing at a quicker pace. This was Seattle’s eighth game this season that finished in less than 2 hours, 40 minutes — and the fourth in their last five.
Angels starter C.J. Wilson said “It’s one of those things where you beat the guy over and over and over again, then he finally just says: ‘You know what? Forget it. I’m just going to step in the bucket and swing at the first pitch.”
The Angels took a 3-0 lead in the third against lefty Roenis Elias with three consecutive one-out hits — a triple by No. 9 batter Collin Cowgill, a double by Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout’s seventh homer, which cleared the trees in center field by plenty and was estimated at 441 feet.
Huston Street (2-0) was credited with the win after his first blown save in 10 opportunities this season. Seager opened the ninth with a double and Mike Zunino hit a bloop single before Ackley came through with his sacrifice fly.
Eliase allowed three runs and six hits over seven innings in his third start since joining the rotation following Hisashi Iwakuma’s injured right shoulder.
Wilson pitched seven innings, allowing two runs and seven hits while striking out four and walking none. He won 2-0 in his season debut April 7 at Seattle with eight innings of two-hit ball.