Corey Hart Leads Seattle Mariners To Win Over Angels

Apr 8, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) and Seattle Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak (17) celebrate with Seattle Mariners designated hitter Corey Hart (27) at home plate after Hart hit a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

In front of a sellout crowd at Safeco Field, Corey Hart blasted two home runs to lead the Mariners over the Angels 5-3 Tuesday night in Seattle. The game was the home opener for the Mariners and the team didn’t disappoint.

James Paxton struggled in the first, allowing back-to-back homers off the bats of Albert Pujols and David Freese in the first inning, giving the Angels a 3-0 lead. But he settled in and retired 14 in a row before allowing his next single.

The Mariners got on the board in the 3rd. With two on and two out, Justin Smoak singled, scoring Brad Miller with the team’s first run. Then Corey Hart launched a 3-run homer to left to put the Mariners ahead 4-3. Hart would strike again in the 7th with a screaming line drive homer to center, for an added insurance run.

With the lead, Paxton looked refreshed. He struck out the side in the 4th and seemed to be untouchable. But in the 6th, after a leadoff single by Kole Calhoun, Paxton’s first pitch to Mike Trout appeared to be uncomfortable and Paxton would leave the game. He was later said to be suffering from a strained lat muscle.

Already missing Taijuan Walker and Hisashi Iwakuma from the rotation, this was not the news Mariners fans needed to hear. He will be reevaluated today and could be out 2-3 weeks.

The bullpen did their job. Yoervis Medina, Danny Farquhar and Tom Wilhelmsen pitched three innings on no-hit ball in relief. Fernando Rodney came in and pitched the 9th – struggling at first, walking the first two batters. He settled in and got back to back strikeouts and a fly out to Dustin Ackley to end it.

The M’s finish the short two-game series tonight. Gameday preview coming right here at 10 AM.

BOX SCORE

Batting

LA Angels


	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	BB	K	LOB	AVG
Kole CalhounRF	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	.188
Mike TroutCF	4	1	1	0	0	0	2	1	.290
Albert Pujols1B	2	1	1	2	1	2	0	0	.219
David Freese3B	3	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	.200
Collin CowgillPR	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Josh HamiltonLF	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.444
Ian StewartPH	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	.143
Howie Kendrick2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	.250
Raúl IbañezDH	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	.192
Chris IannettaC	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.095
Erick AybarSS	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.179
Totals	30	3	4	3	2	4	9	10

Batting

HR – A Pujols (1, 1st inning off J Paxton 1 on, 1 Out), D Freese (1, 1st inning off J Paxton 0 on, 1 Out)

RBI – A Pujols 2 (3), D Freese (3)

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – R Ibanez 1

GIDP – D Freese

Team LOB – 4

Fielding

E – J Hamilton (2, field)

DP – 1 (H Kendrick-E Aybar-A Pujols)

Seattle


	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	BB	K	LOB	AVG
Abraham AlmonteCF	5	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	.233
Brad MillerSS	4	1	0	0	0	1	3	3	.219
Robinson Canó2B	3	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	.346
Justin Smoak1B	4	1	2	1	0	0	1	0	.321
Corey HartDH	4	2	2	4	2	0	1	1	.227
Kyle Seager3B	1	0	1	0	0	3	0	0	.158
Stefen RomeroRF	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	.222
Michael SaundersRF	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.231
Dustin AckleyLF	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	.250
Mike ZuninoC	4	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	.280
Totals	32	5	8	5	2	5	9	18

Batting

2B – J Smoak (3, H Santiago); K Seager (3, H Santiago)

HR – C Hart 2 (3, 3rd inning off H Santiago 2 on, 2 Out, 7th inning off F Salas 0 on, 2 Out)

RBI – J Smoak (9), C Hart 4 (5)

2-out RBI – J Smoak, C Hart 4

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – B Miller 1, S Romero 1, D Ackley 3

GIDP – R Cano

Team LOB – 9

Running

CS – K Seager (1, 2nd base by N Maronde/C Iannetta)

Fielding

DP – 1 (K Seager-R Cano-J Smoak)

Pitching

LA Angels


	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	WHIP	ERA
Héctor Santiago(L, 0-2)	4.1	5	4	4	3	6	1	1.93	7.71
Michael Kohn	0.2	0	0	0	1	0	0	1.64	4.91
Fernando Salas	1.2	1	1	1	1	2	1	2.31	6.23
Nick Maronde	0.2	1	0	0	0	0	0	1.67	3.00
Kevin Jepsen	0.2	1	0	0	0	1	0	2.57	19.29

Seattle


	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	WHIP	ERA
James Paxton(W, 2-0)	5.0	4	3	3	0	4	2	0.67	2.25
Yoervis Medina(HLD, 3)	1.0	0	0	0	1	1	0	1.36	2.45
Danny Farquhar(HLD, 1)	1.2	0	0	0	1	1	0	0.69	0.00
Tom Wilhelmsen(HLD, 2)	0.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	1.50	0.00
Fernando Rodney(SV, 2)	1.0	0	0	0	2	2	0	1.13	0.00

WP – H Santiago, Y Medina

HBP – S Romero (by H Santiago)

Pitches-strikes – H Santiago 94-59; M Kohn 15-7; F Salas 27-12; N Maronde 8-5; K Jepsen 7-6; J Paxton 60-40; Y Medina 15-8; D Farquhar 19-12; T Wilhelmsen 5-3; F Rodney 21-11

Ground balls-fly balls – H Santiago 3-6; M Kohn 0-2; F Salas 1-2; N Maronde 0-1; K Jepsen 1-1; J Paxton 9-4; Y Medina 1-0; D Farquhar 2-2; T Wilhelmsen 0-0; F Rodney 0-1

Batters faced – H Santiago 22; M Kohn 4; F Salas 7; N Maronde 2; K Jepsen 3; J Paxton 19; Y Medina 3; D Farquhar 6; T Wilhelmsen 1; F Rodney 5

Game Details

Game Time: 2:59.

Umpires: HP–Mike Muchlinski. 1B–Mike Winters. 2B–Andy Fletcher. 3B–Seth Buckminster.

Weather: INDOORS

Wind: 0 mph, .

Attendance: 45,661.

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