The Los Angeles Angels came into their weekend series against the Seattle Mariners with a chance to firmly cement themselves in the race for the third wild card spot in the American League postseason picture. A four-game series meant a win would establish their place ahead of the Mariners in the standings.
Instead, the Angels offense faltered and pitching struggled late in games and the result was a four-game sweep at the hands of their AL West opponents. They lost all four games and fell below .500 for the first time since July 17.
The Angels had a run differential of only minus-six for the series, losing 20-14 on aggregate. Nearly all of their losses came in the final innings, as the overall score of the series was tied after seven innings. But in each game, something happened to push the Mariners ahead and leave the Angels falling behind.
Game 1: Mariners def. Angels 5-3
The series opener saw Shohei Ohtani pitch four scoreless innings before being removed due to cramping in his finger. And even with Jose Soriano allowing a solo home run to give the Mariners an early lead, it was the Angels pulling away late.
L.A. led 3-1 heading into the final inning for Carlos Estévez, who had not blown a save opportunity all season. But a lack of command and one powerful swing from Cade Marlowe loaded the bases and scored all four to give the Mariners a 5-3 lead that would hold through the final frame.
Game 2: Mariners def. Angels 9-7
The Angels stormed their way back from a first-inning 4-0 deficit thanks to home runs from Luis Rengifo and Mike Moustakas. Knotted at 7-7 through seven, it looked as though the Halos would have a chance to knot the series before the final two games.
Instead, the Mariners struck with runs in both the eighth and ninth inning, making it 9-7. And the Angels, who had runners on first and second with no outs in the ninth, couldn’t capitalize.
The Angels fell for the second straight night to the Mariners and had to quickly regroup for the third game of the series.
Game 3: Mariners def. Angels 3-2
The Angels fought an uphill battle all of Saturday night. A two-run double by Julio Rodriguez in the third inning gave the Mariners their first lead, and although Randal Grichuk would respond in the bottom half of the frame with a solo homer, the Angels couldn’t get any closer.
The Mariners extended their lead to 3-1 in the eighth inning and were able to hold firm even amid pressure from the Angels bats. The Angels scored one run in the bottom of the ninth to make it 3-2, but the run came on a Brandon Drury double play, emptying the bases and preventing a rally.
Game 4: Mariners def. Angels 3-2
A win in the finale could have salvaged an already disastrous series from the Angels. And the Halos showed some mettle by responding to each of the first two runs scored by Seattle. Moustakas roped an RBI double in the first inning and Matt Thaiss hit a solo homer in the seventh, with both hits tying the ballgame.
But the Mariners brought home their free runner on second in the 10th frame and the Angels were unable to do so. Manager Phil Nevin criticized some incorrect calls at the plate in the final inning, but said the team needed to do more to prevent being in that situation at all.
What’s Next
The Angels remain at home for a three-game set against the San Francisco Giants. Angels outfielder Mickey Moniak ensured that this series is the focus and that the clubhouse is not going to dwell on the results of the Seattle series, according to Sarah Valenzuela of The L.A. Times:
“We focus on San Francisco. I think it’s all we can do. Like I’ve said a million times, we know what we have in here, and it’s gonna take all of us and just try to look to get back on track tomorrow.”
At 56-57, the Angels now sit seven games out of the final wild card spot with three teams between them and 49 games remaining on the calendar. It has become a dire stretch in Anaheim, so their urgency must match it.