Justin Smoak Leads Mariners Past Angels

Apr 1, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels second baseman

(2) tags out Seattle Mariners first baseman

(17) on a stolen base attempt in the second inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Mariners are off to a great start following up last night’s Opening Night win with another over the division rival Los Angeles Angels, 8-3 Tuesday.

The game marked the Mariners debut for several players including Corey Hart (1-4, R), Stefen Romero (0-4, K), John Buck (1-4, R), Joe Beimel (0.1 IP, pickoff, 0 pitches), Fernando Rodney ( ).

Seattle got to C.J. Wilson in the 3rd as Abraham Almonte doubled home Dustin Ackley to get on the board 1-0. Then after striking out Brad Miller, Wilson intentionally walked Robinson Cano to load the bases with two out for Justin Smoak.

Smoak made a statement that teams are not going to be able to pitch around Cano when he drilled a shot in the left-center gap for a bases-clearing double.

Erasmo Ramirez pitched seven solid innings, his only blemish coming in the 4th when he allowed a 2-run homer to Raul Ibanez. Ramirez scattered six hits, allowing only the two runs while walking none and striking out six.

The Angels threatened in the 8th as they got one run off Tom Wilhelmsen and had another on first with two outs. Joe Beimel came in for Wilhelmsen and picked David Freese off first to end the inning before throwing a pitch.

Brad Miller added a 2-run homer in the 9th, his second home run of the game to give the Mariners some insurance. Seattle is 6-for-10 with six extra base hits with two outs during the first two games. That’s situational/timely hitting at it’s best.

A Cano-Miller-Smoak double play ended the game as Rodney closed it out in a non-save situation, reaching for the arrow out of the quiver and shooting it into the LA night for the first time as a Mariner.

These same two teams finish the series tomorrow night in Los Angeles. James Paxton takes the mound for Seattle as they look for the sweep.

BOX SCORE

Seattle Batting

BATTING
2B: Almonte, A (2, Wilson, C), Smoak (2, Wilson, C), Ackley (1, Wilson, C).
HR: Miller, B 2 (2, 5th inning off Wilson, C, 0 on, 2 out; 9th inning off Kohn, 1 on, 2 out).
TB: Cano; Ackley 3; Smoak 3; Hart; Almonte, A 2; Buck; Miller, B 8.
RBI: Almonte, A (2), Smoak 3 (6), Miller, B 3 (3), Ackley (4).
2-out RBI: Smoak 3; Miller, B 3; Ackley.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Hart; Buck.
Team RISP: 4-for-10.
Team LOB: 4.

BASERUNNING
SB: Ackley (1, 2nd base off Kohn/Conger).
CS: Smoak (1, 2nd base by Wilson, C/Conger).

FIELDING
E: Miller, B (1, fielding), Cano (1, throw).
DP: 2 (Seager-Smoak, Cano-Miller, B-Smoak).
Pickoffs: Beimel (Freese at 1st base).

LA Angels Batting

BATTING
2B: Hamilton (1, Ramirez, Er), Pujols (2, Wilhelmsen).
HR: Ibanez (1, 4th inning off Ramirez, Er, 1 on, 1 out).
TB: Hamilton 3; Pujols 2; Ibanez 5; Conger 2; Freese.
RBI: Ibanez 2 (2).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Pujols; Calhoun.
GIDP: Kendrick, H, Conger.
Team RISP: 1-for-8.
Team LOB: 5.

BASERUNNING
PO: Freese (1st base by Beimel).

Seattle Pitching

LA Angels Pitching

  WP: Wilson, C.
IBB: Cano (by Wilson, C).
HBP: Trout (by Ramirez, Er).
Pitches-strikes: Ramirez, Er 93-62, Wilhelmsen 18-8, Beimel 0-0, Rodney 10-7, Wilson, C 114-68, Shoemaker 37-21, Kohn 25-18.
Groundouts-flyouts: Ramirez, Er 11-1, Wilhelmsen 1-0, Beimel 0-0, Rodney 1-0, Wilson, C 2-4, Shoemaker 3-1, Kohn 1-0.
Batters faced: Ramirez, Er 28, Wilhelmsen 4, Beimel 0, Rodney 3, Wilson, C 26, Shoemaker 8, Kohn 5.
Inherited runners-scored: Beimel 1-0, Shoemaker 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Marty Foster. 1B: Rob Drake. 2B: Alan Porter. 3B: Joe West.
Weather: 59 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 13 mph, R to L.
T: 3:05.
Att: 43,567.
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
April 1, 2014

Seattle Batting

LA Angels Batting

Seattle Pitching

LA Angels Pitching