Montero Homer Leads Mariners Past Angels, 3-1
SEATTLE (AP) — Jesus Montero continued to get the best of Jered Weaver, hitting a three-run homer as the Seattle Mariners handed the Los Angeles Angels their third loss in four games with a 3-1 win on Wednesday night.
Montero's fourth homer of the season was a line drive into the bullpen in left field with two outs in the fourth inning. It was his fifth homer among six career hits off Weaver (7-11), who was ejected an inning later after hitting Kyle Seager with a pitch.
Hisashi Iwakuma (8-4) allowed one run and struck out a season-high nine in six strong innings to help the Mariners win for the 10th time in 15 games. The loss dropped the Angels five games behind Texas in the AL West, but they remained 3 1/2 games behind Houston in the AL wild-card race.
David Murphy homered for the second straight game, but the Angels could not manage any other offense.
Weaver lasted 4 2/3 innings, losing for the second time in his last four starts, and was ejected with two outs in the fifth inning after hitting Seager following the two exchanging words. Seager called for time in the batters' box and Weaver became impatient, leading to the pair barking back and forth. Following a brief delay, Seager indicated he was ready and Weaver responded with an 83 mph fastball into Seager's ribs. Weaver was immediately ejected by home plate umpire Brian O'Nora.
Iwakuma was lifted after throwing 84 pitches in six innings and allowing just four hits. Iwakuma faced a small jam in the third when Carlos Perez led off with a double and was sacrificed to third. With one out, Murphy hit a grounder to Robinson Cano at second base. Perez broke for the plate on contact and Cano's throw to catcher Jesus Sucre was in time for the out.
Perez led off the eighth inning with a single off Carson Smith and advanced to third on Murphy's one-out hit. But Smith rebounded with strikeouts of Cole Kalhoun and Mike Trout to end the inning.
Tom Wilhelmsen pitched the ninth for his 11th save in as many chances.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Ryan Jackson started at second base after Taylor Featherston had started every game there in September. Manager Mike Scioscia said he wanted to give Featherston a day off.
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