Mariners rough up Lincecum, Angels
SEATTLE -- Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners overcame a rough start to beat the Angels 6-4 on a night when Los Angeles starter Tim Lincecum endured another rough outing.
Hernandez (6-4) bounced back from Mike Trout's three-run homer in the first to pitch eight strong innings. He allowed four runs and three hits, only one of which came over his final seven innings.
The Mariners used a six-run first inning -- including a three-run homer by Mike Zunino -- to hand Lincecum (2-6) his third consecutive loss.
Jett Bandy added his sixth homer with a solo shot in the fifth for Los Angeles (49-60).
Seattle (55-53) has won three of four games, with new closer Edwin Diaz earning saves in each of the victories. Diaz struck out Trout, Albert Pujols and Andrelton Simmons to finish off the win.
First baseman Adam Lind and left fielder Norichika Aoki each had three hits for the Mariners, who had 14.
The offense was flowing during a first inning that saw both teams combine for nine hits and nine runs.
The Mariners opened the bottom of the first with four consecutive singles, with Robinson Cano driving in a run to cut the deficit to 3-1.
After Lincecum got the first out of the inning on a Kyle Seager fly ball to right, Lind pulled the Mariners to within 3-2 on an RBI single. Leonys Martin tied the score with a sacrifice fly, then Zunino delivered his sixth home run of the season with a three-run shot to left.
Lincecum recovered to get through the second and third innings unscathed but came out after 3 1/3 innings. He allowed six runs off nine hits while walking two. It marked the seventh time in nine starts this season that Lincecum has failed to get an out past the fifth inning.
NOTES: Los Angeles starter Tim Lincecum, who grew up on Seattle's Eastside and attended the University of Washington, was making his first start in Seattle since June 2012. ... Angels CF Mike Trout was back in the lineup Friday after getting the day off Thursday. ... The Angels swept Seattle the last time these two teams met at Safeco Field in a three-game series in May. ... Seattle C Mike Zunino started for the fourth straight game. Zunino, who was recalled from Triple-A on June 30, is hitting .350 with three home runs and eight RBIs since July 31 and has supplanted veteran Chris Iannetta as starter. ... Los Angeles hitting coach Dave Hansen and assistant hitting coach Paul Sorrento both spent the twilight of their playing careers with the Mariners. ... To commemorate the recent Hall of Fame induction of Seattle legend Ken Griffey Jr., the Mariners have events planned for the entire series. Friday was Ken Griffey Jr. Hall of Fame Bobblehead Night. On Saturday, Griffey's No. 24 will be retired by the team.