Paxton leaves just shy of complete game as M's top Angels
SEATTLE -- Left-handed starter James Paxton came within two outs of pitching the first complete game of his career before taking a line drive off his left elbow in the ninth inning of a 3-1 Seattle Mariners win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon.
Paxton (4-5) allowed just five hits over 8 1/3 innings, the longest outing of his career, and struck out Mike Trout four times on the Los Angeles star's 25th birthday. Paxton was in total command before a liner off the bat of Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons hit him flush in the left elbow. Paxton went down on one knee and was in obvious pain as trainers came out to check on him, but he was able to walk off under his own power while nursing the left arm.
His condition wasn't known immediately after the game.
Veteran reliever Tom Wilhelmsen came on to get the final two outs, earning his first save of the season on a day when closer Edwin Diaz was being given a pre-determined break. Diaz earned saves in four of the Mariners' previous five games.
Trout, who had home runs in each of the first two games of the series, had his first four-strikeout game since Paxton and the Mariners did it on Sept. 17, 2014. Trout is now 2-for-20 with 10 strikeouts in his career against Paxton.
The Mariners (57-53) used a three-run fourth inning, overcoming a beautiful Trout catch over the wall, to win for the fifth time in six games.
After the Angels' Albert Pujols drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single in the third inning, Seattle used a three-run fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Nelson Cruz tied the score 1-1 with a single to right, then Seattle took its first lead on a sacrifice fly when Trout went over the wall to steal a grand slam from Leonys Martin. Mariners second baseman Mike Freeman, who had his first career hit in the first inning, added an RBI single for a 3-1 lead in the fourth.
Los Angeles starter Matt Shoemaker (6-12) allowed three runs off seven hits over seven innings.
Freeman, making his Seattle debut, had a pair of hits for the Mariners. Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager added a pair of singles. The Mariners played without second baseman Robinson Cano, who took his first full day off of the season after playing in 109 consecutive games.
The Angels (49-61) were without leadoff hitter Yunel Escobar, who hurt his knee in the ninth inning of Saturday's loss to the Mariners.
NOTES: The Mariners activated RHP Nick Vincent from the 15-day disabled list before Sunday's game, and they optioned RHP Cody Martin to Triple-A Tacoma. INF Luis Sardinas was also optioned to Triple-A Tacoma, with INF Mike Freeman being called up. ... On Tuesday, Los Angeles is scheduled to face former Angel John Lackey for the first time since July 7, 2013, when the Angels beat Lackey and the Boston Red Sox 3-0. Lackey, now a starter with the Cubs, spent his first eight seasons with Anaheim/Los Angeles. ... Seattle will host the Detroit Tigers on Monday. ... Mariners manager Scott Servais said LHP Wade LeBlanc will start Tuesday's game against the Tigers. Servais hadn't named a starter because he wanted LeBlanc to be available out of the bullpen over the first two games of the Angels series over the weekend. LeBlanc wasn't needed, so he's available to start Tuesday.