Jerome Williams had one of his worst outings of the season as the Angels took an 8-6 loss in the final game of their series with the Mariners.
Mike Carp’s two-out double in the top of the 2nd inning drove in two M’s and started the scoring. The Halos would respond with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, and the score was knotted at 2-2.
Kendrys Morales broke the tie with a two-run schwinger in the 4th, giving him three home runs in as many games. It looks like Morales’s power is starting to come back.
Williams was cruising through what should have been a 1-2-3 inning when Erick Aybar made a two-out error in the 5th inning. With Ichiro Suzuki on first, Dustin Ackley smacked a ball to left field, where a diving Mike Trout came within inches of making the play and ending the inning. Unfortunately for the Angels, the ball bounced into foul territory and gave the M’s runners on second and third. Kyle Seager promptly tied the game with a two-run double before Williams got through the inning.
Trout lead off the bottom half of the 5th inning with a walk, then advanced to third on an errant throw from Seattle starter Hector Noesi. Maicer Izturis worked a walk, then Morales singled in Trout. Howie Kendrick then singled in Izturis to give the Angels a 6-4 edge.
Normally, the Angels can hold this type of lead, but that wasn’t the case last night. Williams left with runners on the corners and a 6-5 lead. Bobby Cassevah continued his struggles by allowing both runners to score and exiting the game*. David Carpenter replaced Cassevah, got through the 6th, then pitched a 1-2-3 7th.
*You have to wonder how long Cassevah’s leash is, as he’s struggled in just about every outing this season. Kevin Jepsen has 23 strikeouts in 13.2 innings at Triple-A and could earn another chance this season.
The Mariners scored an insurance run when Ichiro homered off Carpenter in the 8th. The Angels failed to make the comeback, and failed to capitalize on Texas’s loss in Oakland.
Hudson Belinsky can be followed on Twitter at @hudsonbelinsky.
