Angels complete first sweep since June
SEATTLE -- Jered Weaver, on the verge of a complete game, understood why he wasn't allowed to finish the Los Angeles Angels' 7-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
Weaver said he wanted to come out for the ninth inning, but he accepted manager Mike Scioscia's decision to end his day.
"He had a little more left in him," Scioscia said, "but the 102 pitches were good enough. No use getting him up to 115 or 120. It was good to see him finish strong."
Behind Weaver's pitching and an offense that pounded out 14 hits, most of them coming with two outs, the Angels finished off a rare series sweep.
The Angels collected six extra-base hits, all of which came with two outs, while scoring four runs in the fourth inning and three in the sixth. Weaver and rookie reliever Cory Rasmus made the lead hold up as Los Angeles (58-71) earned its third consecutive win at Safeco Field. It was then Angels' first sweep since late June.
Weaver (8-7) matched his longest outing of the season, allowing just one run on three hits over eight innings. He struck out eight without giving up a walk. His only mistake resulted in a Dustin Ackley solo home run that gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.
"One bad pitch," said Weaver, who threw a full-count curveball that Ackley hit over the right field fence in the third inning. "They say solo homers don't beat you, and that was proven (Sunday)."
Rasmus, making his Angels debut, pitched a scoreless ninth despite loading the bases.
Three doubles, two triples and Kole Calhoun's two-run homer helped the Angels build a big lead while chasing Seattle starter Aaron Harang from the game. All nine hits and seven runs allowed by Harang (5-11) came with two outs.
"He's a veteran guy. He has to be able to shut that down and get that final out," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said.
Harang, 35, has allowed seven or more earned runs in five of his 21 starts this season. In four 2013 starts against the Angels, he is 0-4 with a 10.38 ERA.
Los Angeles scored all four of its fourth-inning runs with two outs, thanks to five consecutive baserunners. Josh Hamilton and Mark Trumbo had back-to-back doubles, then Hank Conger was intentionally walked to set up Chris Nelson's two-RBI triple. Nelson then came around to score on a Grant Green single for a 4-1 Angels lead.
The first two Angels batters went down in the sixth inning as well, but another Green single, a Peter Bourjos RBI triple and Calhoun's two-run homer boosted the lead to 7-1.
"In both those situations, (Harang) was one pitch from getting out of it," Wedge said. "That domino (effect) has been a problem with him. He had some bad misses today, and they touched him up."
Three Angels had multiple hits in the game, including a 2-for-4 performance by Mike Trout. The second-year player is hitting .393 against the Mariners this season.
Ackley had two of Seattle's five hits. He was one of the few bright spots for the Mariners' offense during the three-game sweep. He went 5-for-10 during a series that saw Seattle (59-70) get outscored 14-2 while managing just 18 hits.
NOTES: The game was delayed for a couple minutes in the seventh inning, when the Angels complained about a fan's blinking light in center field. During a Trumbo at-bat, Scioscia came out to draw attention to the light, which umpires eventually asked the fan to turn off. ... Weaver earned his 13th career win against Seattle, matching his highest total against any opponent. The 30-year-old veteran also has 13 victories over the Texas Rangers. ... The Angels open a three-game series against Tampa Bay on Monday. The Rays are the only AL team Los Angeles has yet to face this season. ... Sunday might have been the final time the Mariners will face a right-handed starter this homestand. The Rangers' probables for the three-game series that begins Monday are all southpaws. ... Rasmus became the 46th player, and 25th pitcher, used by Los Angeles this season. He made three appearances for the Atlanta Braves earlier this year.
