Mariners Dig the Long Ball, Still Have a Playoff Shot

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The Seattle Mariners needed to be winning like this 2 weeks ago. But alas, with a victory over the Angels, the Mariners need to win their last two games while the Oakland Atheletics lose theirs if they want to be in the postseason.

After a rough couple of outings, Hisashi Iwakuma settled down and pitched 6 innings of 2 run ball: he gave up back-to-back solo home runs to Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout in the 6th inning.

Iwakuma was staked to an early lead, though, when Kendrys Morales hit a solo shot and Michael Saunders went yard for a 2-run home run in the second inning, giving the Mariners a 3-1 lead.

Dustin Ackley hit the eventual game-winning home run over the right field wall in the 5th inning, as Fernado Rodney turned the 9th inning into another nail-biter with a run scoring.

The A’s play Texas today. And unless they lose, the Mariners have no shot at the playoffs.

Box Score:

LA AngelsABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Calhoun, RF4111010.275
Trout, CF4111010.290
Pujols, 1B4010020.273
Kendrick, H, 2B4020011.293
1-O’Malley, PR0100000.231
Aybar, SS4011001.281
Freese, 3B4010001.260
Boesch, DH4000022.181
Iannetta, C3000011.251
Navarro, E, LF2000000.240
a-Cowgill, PH-LF1000010.254
Totals34373096.260

a-Struck out for Navarro, E in the 8th.
1-Ran for Kendrick, H in the 9th.

SeattleABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Jackson, A, CF4010013.257
Ackley, LF4111002.245
Cano, 2B3000110.316
Seager, 3B4000012.269
Morales, K, DH3121100.222
Morrison, 1B4110002.256
Saunders, M, RF4122000.268
Zunino, C3000011.197
Taylor, C, SS3020011.289
Totals324942511.244

BATTING
2B: Aybar (30, Rodney).
HR: Calhoun (17, 6th inning off Iwakuma, 0 on, 1 out), Trout (36, 6th inning off Iwakuma, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Trout 4; Calhoun 4; Pujols; Kendrick, H 2; Freese; Aybar 2.
RBI: Calhoun (58), Trout (111), Aybar (68).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Boesch.
Team RISP: 1-for-3.
Team LOB: 4.
BASERUNNING
SB: O’Malley (2, 2nd base off Rodney/Zunino).FIELDING
DP: (Kendrick, H-Aybar-Pujols).

BATTING
2B: Saunders, M (9, Weaver).
HR: Morales, K (8, 2nd inning off Weaver, 0 on, 0 out), Saunders, M (8, 2nd inning off Weaver, 1 on, 0 out), Ackley (14, 5th inning off Weaver, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Ackley 4; Jackson, A; Taylor, C 2; Morales, K 5; Saunders, M 6; Morrison.
RBI: Morales, K (42), Saunders, M 2 (32), Ackley (65).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ackley; Jackson, A 2.
GIDP: Seager.
Team RISP: 0-for-7.
Team LOB: 6.
BASERUNNING
SB: Jackson, A (20, 2nd base off Weaver/Iannetta), Taylor, C 2 (5, 2nd base off Weaver/Iannetta, 2nd base off Weaver/Iannetta).

LA AngelsIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Weaver(L, 18-9)6.09442533.59
Thatcher1.00000003.30
Herrera, Y1.00000002.81
Totals8.09442533.59
SeattleIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Iwakuma(W, 15-9)6.14220423.52
Maurer(H, 5)0.21000104.76
Furbush(H, 20)0.20000203.64
Smith, C(H, 3)0.10000100.00
Rodney(S, 48)1.02110102.89
Totals9.07330923.23