Cruz homers to lift Mariners past Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Nelson Cruz hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to give the Seattle Mariners a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.
Kyle Seager also hit a solo homer as the Mariners extended their best winning streak of the season to eight games. Seattle moved within 1 1/2 games of the Toronto Blue Jays for the second wild-card spot and within 8 1/2 games of the first-place Texas Rangers in the American League West.
Right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma established a career high with his 16th victory. Iwakuma (16-11) induced 10 groundouts in 6 1/3 innings, conceded one run on five hits and three walks and registered two strikeouts. Edwin Diaz pitched a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout for his 16th save.
Angels catcher Juan Graterol made his first major-league start after 11 seasons in the minor leagues, and went 2-for-2 with a run scored. But Los Angeles lost its third game in succession and seventh in its past eight.
Cruz broke a 1-1 tie when he sent an 82 mph slider on a 1-0 count from reliever Jose Valdez (1-3) into the second row of the stands down the left-field line for his 37th home run of the season. Valdez faced just one batter and threw only two pitches.
Cruz's solo drive cost right-hander Jhoulys Chacin a chance to win an emergency start in place of left-hander Tyler Skaggs, who was scratched because of a sore forearm. In six innings, Chacin conceded just one run, scattered three hits, issued no walks and collected five strikeouts while throwing 78 pitches.
Los Angeles put the potential tying run at third base in the seventh inning. Cliff Pennington bunted down the third-base line for a single, moved to second base on Graterol's sacrifice and took third when pinch hitter Nick Buss grounded out. But reliever Tom Wilhelmsen defused the threat by making Yunel Escobar fly out.
The Mariners had a chance to move ahead in the top of the third inning but a video review nullified their run. Leonys Martin hit a single up the middle, took second when he stole his team-leading 19th base and moved to third when Ketel Marte grounded out for the inning's second out.
Nori Aoki then hit a high chopper past Chacin. Shortstop Cliff Pennington cut in front of second baseman Gregorio Petit to field the ball and made an awkward throw that Aoki appeared to beat for a single, allowing Martin to score.
However, Angels manager Mike Scioscia challenged first base umpire Doug Eddings' call, which the replay overturned. Aoki was out, and Martin's run did not count.
The Angels responded in the bottom of the third by taking a 1-0 lead. Graterol singled down the right-field line, took third base on Petit's single to left field and came home on a wild pitch that also enabled Petit to take second base.
Seattle tied the score in the fifth on Seager's 29th home run. Seager propelled Chacin's first pitch, a 91 mph fastball, into the right-field bleachers to increase his career-high total in homers.
Angels center fielder Mike Trout denied the Mariners a chance to put a runner in scoring position in the sixth. With Marte at first base, Trout made a diving backhanded catch of Seth Smith's line drive into left-center field to record the inning's second out.
NOTES: Seattle traded RHP Joe Wieland to the Atlanta Braves for cash. ... With their three home runs Tuesday night, the Mariners surpassed 200 team homers for the fifth time in team history and the first time since 1999. ... The Mariners will play 10 of their final 16 games at home as they pursue a playoff spot. ... Los Angeles activated RHP Cory Rasmus from the disabled list. He missed 105 games because of a strained right groin. ... Angels manager Mike Scioscia began the night needing one win to tie Hall of Famer Earl Weaver for 23rd place in career victories with 1,480. ... Angels SS Andrelton Simmons was not in the starting lineup for the third consecutive game because of a bruised right hand. ... Angels C Juan Graterol made his first major league start. Graterol played 527 minor league games in 11 seasons before making his major league debut Sept. 2.