Ryan Johnson delivered six strong innings, and Josh Lowe broke a tie with a sixth-inning home run as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Vaughn Grissom also drove in a run for Los Angeles, which won a low-scoring game built around pitching and timely extra-base hits. Johnson allowed one run and struck out seven without issuing a walk. The result also guaranteed Seattle its first losing season since 2019.
Johnson Controls Seattle Lineup
Johnson allowed six hits across six innings and improved to 5-8. The right-hander also earned wins in consecutive starts for the first time in his career.
Seattle put runners on base against him, but struggled to turn those opportunities into runs. Johnson consistently worked out of trouble and avoided giving the Mariners extra chances with walks.
The Angels did not give him much offensive support against Seattle starter Logan Gilbert. However, two runs proved enough.
Gilbert also worked six innings and gave up six hits. He struck out seven and did not allow the Angels to build a large inning. The right-hander fell to 12-10 despite another solid performance.
Gilbert entered the game after becoming the first Seattle pitcher since 2018 to record double-digit strikeouts in consecutive starts. Los Angeles made more contact in this matchup, but Gilbert kept the game scoreless through the first four innings.
Grissom Opens The Scoring
The Angels finally moved ahead with two outs in the fifth.
Wade Meckler started the sequence with a single. Grissom then drove a double into left field, giving Meckler enough time to score from first base.
The hit put Los Angeles ahead 1-0 and ended the scoreless stretch between Johnson and Gilbert.
Seattle answered quickly in the sixth.
Dominic Canzone led off the inning with a triple to left field. Johnson retired the next batter, but Julio Rodríguez followed with a double into the left-center gap. Canzone scored easily to tie the game at 1-1.
Rodríguez’s hit gave Seattle its only run of the night. Johnson prevented further damage and finished the inning without allowing the Mariners to take the lead.
Lowe Answers With Tiebreaking Homer
The tie lasted only until the bottom of the sixth.
Lowe stepped in with one out and drove a Gilbert pitch over the wall in right-center field. His solo home run gave the Angels a 2-1 lead and marked his 12th homer of the season.
That swing became the final run-scoring play of the game.
Gilbert completed the sixth without allowing another run, but Seattle’s offense could not respond for a second time. Los Angeles turned the game over to its bullpen after Johnson completed his outing.
Tayler Saucedo handled the seventh and kept Seattle scoreless. José Fermin took over in the eighth and also protected the one-run lead.
Fermin faced an uncomfortable moment when Canzone hit a comebacker that struck him in the foot. The play still resulted in a groundout, and Fermin stayed out of further trouble.
Ryan Watson entered for the ninth with the Angels still leading 2-1. He retired Seattle without allowing the tying run to score and earned his third save of the season. It was his second save since joining Los Angeles.
Mariners Secure Losing Season
The loss dropped Seattle to 70-82 and extended its losing streak to three games.
With 82 defeats, the Mariners can no longer finish the regular season at .500 or better. It guarantees their first losing record over a full schedule since 2019. Seattle also finished below .500 during the shortened 2020 season.
The result continued a major change from the previous year, when Seattle finished one win short of reaching the World Series. The Mariners now sit close to mathematical elimination from postseason contention.
Tuesday’s game reflected several of Seattle’s recent problems. The pitching staff kept the game close, but the offense managed only one run. The Mariners collected six hits against Johnson and created another opportunity against the bullpen, yet Los Angeles prevented them from producing a second scoring inning.
The Angels needed little offense of their own. Grissom’s fifth-inning double and Lowe’s sixth-inning homer supplied both runs. Johnson and three relievers handled the rest.
Series Finale Set For Wednesday
Seattle will try to avoid a sweep when the teams complete their three-game series Wednesday night in Anaheim.
Right-hander George Kirby is scheduled to start for the Mariners. Kirby enters the game with a 9-11 record and a 4.25 ERA.
Los Angeles plans to counter with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi. He carries a 1-5 record and a 4.75 ERA into the series finale.
The Mariners will enter the game looking to end their three-game slide after Tuesday’s defeat officially ensured a losing season. The Angels, meanwhile, will try to build on a strong pitching performance that allowed them to turn two timely extra-base hits into a one-run win.
