ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Johnny Giavotella turned an ordinary single into a double through pure hustle. Moments later, Kole Calhoun drove in the tiebreaking run with a drive that clipped a Seattle glove on the way to the outfield.
Although the Los Angeles Angels are still outside the playoff picture with a week left in the regular season, they plan to keep charging headlong into October until they run out of games.
Calhoun put the Angels ahead in the eighth inning, Mike Morin earned his first big league save and Los Angeles completed a sweep of the Mariners with its fifth consecutive victory overall, 3-2 Sunday.
David Freese homered in the fifth for the Angels (81-74), who remained a half-game behind Houston (82-74) for the second AL wild card. With eight wins in 10 games overall, Los Angeles also moved three games behind the AL West-leading Rangers (84-71), with four games in Texas to end the season.
"Every game is crucial," Calhoun said. "Somebody has got to step up in every single game, and that's what I had to do down the stretch."
Calhoun's single drove in pinch-runner Taylor Featherston after Giavotella led off the eighth by scrambling to second base when center field Brad Miller was slow to throw the ball back.
"We never know where Johnny is going to end up," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Hisashi Iwakuma (9-5) yielded eight hits over 7 1/3 innings, but Carson Smith replaced him and gave up Calhoun's drive, which barely eluded first baseman Jesus Montero.
"We were trying to get a ground ball or a strikeout," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. "(Smith) has had success against him. We got the ground ball, but we just didn't put a glove on it."
Morin filled in splendidly for AL saves leader Huston Street, who injured his groin Saturday night.
Pinch-hitter Mark Trumbo hit a tying homer off Fernando Salas (5-2) in the eighth inning for the Mariners (74-82), who lost their final five road games to guarantee their fifth losing season in six years. Seattle was formally eliminated from playoff contention during the game when Houston won.
Jered Weaver pitched five innings of four-hit ball before leaving with shoulder tightness in the final regular-season home start of his worst season in a decade in the Angels' rotation.
Los Angeles had to rely on a bullpen missing its top two relievers after Street joined Joe Smith with late-season injuries, but Salas made the relievers' only big mistake on hanging slider to Trumbo.
The Anaheim-area native and former Angels slugger hit a line drive that clipped the top of the fence but the ball was traveling too fast for Mike Trout to have a chance to repeat Saturday's mind-boggling catch above the wall.
"I've really hated it," Trumbo said of pinch hitting. "But I've gotten a little bit better. That's a tough spot to go in."
NO REVENGE
Nothing happened in the first meeting between Weaver and Kyle Seager since their confrontation in Seattle last week. Weaver, angered by Seager's delay tactics in the batter's box, exchanged harsh words and then plunked Seager, leading to Weaver's ejection and Seager's declaration that the longtime ace quit on his team. Seager, booed all weekend in Anaheim, flied out in the first and doubled in the fourth, getting the Mariners' first hit.
TAKE TWO
Angels catcher Carlos Perez threw out two Mariners on the basepaths in the fifth, catching Logan Morrison stealing before picking off John Hicks from second base.
BIG SHOT
Freese followed up his walkoff homer on Saturday night with his 13th shot, building on a strong finish to two middling seasons with the Angels. The third baseman will be a free agent this winter.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners: James Paxton could start Wednesday if his torn fingernail has healed sufficiently.
Angels: After the game, Street said the results of his MRI exam were "very positive," although he is unlikely to pitch again in the regular season. He hopes to return later in October if the Angels make the postseason.
UP NEXT
Mariners: The Angels will be rooting for Roenis Elias (5-8, 3.94 ERA) when he takes the Safeco mound against Houston.
Angels: All-Star Hector Santiago (9-9, 3.47 ERA) takes the mound for the opener of their final home series against Oakland.
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Although the Los Angeles Angels are still outside the playoff picture with a week left in the regular season, they plan to keep charging headlong into October until they run out of games.
Calhoun put the Angels ahead in the eighth inning, Mike Morin earned his first big league save and Los Angeles completed a sweep of the Mariners with its fifth consecutive victory overall, 3-2 Sunday.
David Freese homered in the fifth for the Angels (81-74), who remained a half-game behind Houston (82-74) for the second AL wild card. With eight wins in 10 games overall, Los Angeles also moved three games behind the AL West-leading Rangers (84-71), with four games in Texas to end the season.
"Every game is crucial," Calhoun said. "Somebody has got to step up in every single game, and that's what I had to do down the stretch."
Calhoun's single drove in pinch-runner Taylor Featherston after Giavotella led off the eighth by scrambling to second base when center field Brad Miller was slow to throw the ball back.
"We never know where Johnny is going to end up," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Hisashi Iwakuma (9-5) yielded eight hits over 7 1/3 innings, but Carson Smith replaced him and gave up Calhoun's drive, which barely eluded first baseman Jesus Montero.
"We were trying to get a ground ball or a strikeout," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. "(Smith) has had success against him. We got the ground ball, but we just didn't put a glove on it."
Morin filled in splendidly for AL saves leader Huston Street, who injured his groin Saturday night.
Pinch-hitter Mark Trumbo hit a tying homer off Fernando Salas (5-2) in the eighth inning for the Mariners (74-82), who lost their final five road games to guarantee their fifth losing season in six years. Seattle was formally eliminated from playoff contention during the game when Houston won.
Jered Weaver pitched five innings of four-hit ball before leaving with shoulder tightness in the final regular-season home start of his worst season in a decade in the Angels' rotation.
Los Angeles had to rely on a bullpen missing its top two relievers after Street joined Joe Smith with late-season injuries, but Salas made the relievers' only big mistake on hanging slider to Trumbo.
The Anaheim-area native and former Angels slugger hit a line drive that clipped the top of the fence but the ball was traveling too fast for Mike Trout to have a chance to repeat Saturday's mind-boggling catch above the wall.
"I've really hated it," Trumbo said of pinch hitting. "But I've gotten a little bit better. That's a tough spot to go in."
NO REVENGE
Nothing happened in the first meeting between Weaver and Kyle Seager since their confrontation in Seattle last week. Weaver, angered by Seager's delay tactics in the batter's box, exchanged harsh words and then plunked Seager, leading to Weaver's ejection and Seager's declaration that the longtime ace quit on his team. Seager, booed all weekend in Anaheim, flied out in the first and doubled in the fourth, getting the Mariners' first hit.
TAKE TWO
Angels catcher Carlos Perez threw out two Mariners on the basepaths in the fifth, catching Logan Morrison stealing before picking off John Hicks from second base.
BIG SHOT
Freese followed up his walkoff homer on Saturday night with his 13th shot, building on a strong finish to two middling seasons with the Angels. The third baseman will be a free agent this winter.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners: James Paxton could start Wednesday if his torn fingernail has healed sufficiently.
Angels: After the game, Street said the results of his MRI exam were "very positive," although he is unlikely to pitch again in the regular season. He hopes to return later in October if the Angels make the postseason.
UP NEXT
Mariners: The Angels will be rooting for Roenis Elias (5-8, 3.94 ERA) when he takes the Safeco mound against Houston.
Angels: All-Star Hector Santiago (9-9, 3.47 ERA) takes the mound for the opener of their final home series against Oakland.
78°Clear
3:35PM,EDT,September 27,2015
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Seattle - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Jered Weaver pitching for Los Angeles | SEA | LAA |
| Marte popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Seager flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Cruz struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle | SEA | LAA |
| Aybar grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun singled to right center. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jered Weaver pitching for Los Angeles | SEA | LAA |
| Canó grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Montero popped out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| S. Smith grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle | SEA | LAA |
| Murphy grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Cron lined out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Freese grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jered Weaver pitching for Los Angeles | SEA | LAA |
| Morrison fouled out to catcher. | 0 | 0 |
| Miller flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Hicks struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle | SEA | LAA |
| Pérez flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Giavotella grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Aybar singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jered Weaver pitching for Los Angeles | SEA | LAA |
| Marte popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Seager doubled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Cruz grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Seager out at third. | 0 | 0 |
| Canó singled to shallow right center, Cruz to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Montero singled to left, Cruz scored, Canó to second. | 1 | 0 |
| S. Smith flied out to right. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle | SEA | LAA |
| Trout singled to right. | 1 | 0 |
| Pujols grounded out to pitcher, Trout to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Murphy singled to shallow right center, Trout scored. | 1 | 1 |
| Cron grounded into double play, third to second to first, Murphy out at second. | 1 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jered Weaver pitching for Los Angeles | SEA | LAA |
| Morrison hit by pitch. | 1 | 1 |
| Morrison caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. | 1 | 1 |
| Miller struck out looking. | 1 | 1 |
| Hicks doubled to left. | 1 | 1 |
| Hicks caught stealing third, catcher to shortstop to third. | 1 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle | SEA | LAA |
| Freese homered to right (390 feet). | 1 | 2 |
| Pérez singled to shallow left. | 1 | 2 |
| Giavotella sacrificed to pitcher, Pérez to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Aybar grounded out to first, Pérez to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Calhoun grounded out to first. | 1 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Cory Rasmus pitching for Los Angeles | SEA | LAA |
| Rasmus relieved Weaver. | 1 | 2 |
| Marte grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Seager flied out to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Cruz struck out looking. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle | SEA | LAA |
| Trout struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Pujols flied out to center. | 1 | 2 |
| Murphy grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Cory Rasmus pitching for Los Angeles | SEA | LAA |
| Canó grounded out to first. | 1 | 2 |
| Montero struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| S. Smith singled to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Ramos relieved Rasmus. | 1 | 2 |
| Morrison grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle | SEA | LAA |
| Cron singled to shallow left. | 1 | 2 |
| Robertson ran for Cron. | 1 | 2 |
| Freese grounded into double play, first to shortstop, Robertson out at second. | 1 | 2 |
| Pérez grounded out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Cesar Ramos pitching for Los Angeles | SEA | LAA |
| Navarro at first base. | 1 | 2 |
| Miller grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Trumbo hit for Hicks. | 1 | 2 |
| Salas relieved Ramos. | 1 | 2 |
| Trumbo homered to center (409 feet). | 2 | 2 |
| Marte struck out looking. | 2 | 2 |
| Seager struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle | SEA | LAA |
| Sucre catching. | 2 | 2 |
| Giavotella doubled to center. | 2 | 2 |
| Featherston ran for Giavotella. | 2 | 2 |
| Aybar sacrificed to pitcher, Featherston to third. | 2 | 2 |
| C. Smith relieved Iwakuma. | 2 | 2 |
| Calhoun singled to right, Featherston scored. | 2 | 3 |
| Trout struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Pujols flied out to right. | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Mike Morin pitching for Los Angeles | SEA | LAA |
| Cowgill in left field. | 2 | 3 |
| Cowart at third base. | 2 | 3 |
| Featherston at second base. | 2 | 3 |
| Morin relieved Salas. | 2 | 3 |
| Cruz struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Canó struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Montero flied out to left. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle Mariners | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Marte SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | .282 | .349 | .400 |
| Seager 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .272 | .331 | .457 |
| Cruz DH | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 20 | .306 | .376 | .575 |
| Canó 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20 | .280 | .329 | .436 |
| Montero 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .234 | .261 | .430 |
| S. Smith LF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .249 | .327 | .442 |
| Morrison RF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | .226 | .305 | .388 |
| Miller CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .257 | .330 | .399 |
| Hicks C | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .069 | .100 | .103 |
a-Trumbo PH
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .261 | .313 | .424 |
Sucre C
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .127 | .172 | .200 |
| Totals | 31 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 130 | |||
| a-homered to center for J Hicks in the 8th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Seager (36, Weaver); Hicks (1, Weaver) HR: Trumbo (13, 8th inning off Salas 0 on, 1 Out) RBI: Montero (19), Trumbo (40) 2-out RBI: Montero Mariners RISP: 1-3 (Montero 1-1, S. Smith 0-1, Cruz 0-1) Team LOB: 3 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING CS: Morrison (4, 2nd base by Weaver/Pérez); Hicks (1, 3rd base by Weaver/Pérez) Picked Off: Hicks (2nd base by Weaver/Pérez) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 2 (Seager-Canó-Montero, Montero-Marte). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA |
| Attendance | 35,243 (77.5% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:34 |
| Weather | 90 degrees, sunny |
| Wind | 5 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Marvin Hudson, First Base - David Rackley, Second Base - Bob Davidson, Third Base - Hunter Wendelstedt |
