Angels Surrender 19 Hits In 7-2 Loss To Mariners
SEATTLE (AP) — Two batters into the game, Garrett Richards had already allowed a home run and a double off the wall.
It didn't get much better for the Los Angeles Angels' right-hander.
Richards allowed a career high-tying 12 hits and failed to make it out of the sixth inning, and the Angels gave up 19 hits overall in losing 7-2 to the Seattle Mariners to snap their five-game winning streak.
"It was one of those nights. I'm not going to go home and beat myself up over it," Richards said. "It was just one game. The first half is over for me, so my main focus is to show up tomorrow, get my work in and get ready for a good second half."
Felix Hernandez threw seven shutout innings to become the third pitcher with at least 11 wins before the All-Star break and Logan Morrison hit the first leadoff home run as Seattle opened a key four-game series by cooling off the surging Angels.
Richards getting knocked around was surprising because of how good he had been against Seattle. In his previous five starts versus the Mariners, Richards was 3-0 with a 0.97 ERA.
Richards had won his last two starts, going 7 2-3 innings in both outings while giving up a combined 13 hits and three runs in beating Seattle and Texas.
But he was done after 5 1-3 innings in this one. Mike Zunino added two hits and two RBIs, while Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Seth Smith all had RBI singles as Seattle added three runs in the eighth inning.
Seattle already had eight hits after Smith and Dustin Ackley led off the fourth inning with consecutive singles. The last was by Zunino with one out in the sixth.
"Garrett's really been pitching well. He just had a tough time commanding counts and that led to not being able to put pitches together," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Hernandez (11-5) was dominant, giving up five hits and only once facing trouble in reaching the 11-win mark before the All-Star Game for the second time in his career. He's tied with Houston's Dallas Keuchel for most wins in the American League. Gerrit Cole of Pittsburgh leads the majors with 12 victories.
Hernandez struck out six, winning for the first time since June 17. He also reached 11 wins before the All-Star Game last year and has won at least 10 games prior to the break in each of the last three seasons.
Hernandez is already bound for the All-Star Game in Cincinnati. The question is whether he'll be the American League starter for the second straight year.
"For me it would be an honor. I would love to start the game. We'll see," Hernandez said.
The Angels never had more than one runner on base at a time until the seventh when Erick Aybar reached on a bunt single and Matt Joyce walked on four pitches. Hernandez fell behind C.J. Cron 3-0 and walked him on a full-count pitch to load the bases.
The Angels rally ended there. Hernandez struck out Carlos Perez on three pitches and got a groundout from pinch-hitter Efren Navarro to end the threat.
Kole Calhoun hit a solo homer in the eight and the Angels loaded the bases in the ninth before Seattle closer Carson Smith got Calhoun to ground out to end it.
ROSTER MOVE
The Angels optioned Navarro to Triple-A Salt Lake City after the game. A corresponding roster move will be made before the game on Friday.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Closer Huston Street is likely out for the weekend series after tweaking his groin in Colorado on Wednesday. Street was feeling better, but the plan is for Joe Smith to be the closer against Seattle.
Mariners: CF Austin Jackson was out of the lineup after leaving Wednesday's game with back spasms. The Mariners hope Jackson will be able to play Friday.
UP NEXT
Angels: Hector Santiago (5-4) makes his final start before the All-Star break. Santiago has a 1.83 ERA in his last six games, five starts, since June 6.
Mariners: Mike Montgomery (4-2) is 3-0 with a 0.38 ERA over his last three starts giving up just one run in 23 2-3 innings. Montgomery had a streak of 20 straight scoreless innings snapped in his last start.
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