Mariners at Angels
The Seattle Mariners have won the first two contests of their 10-game road trip and look to record another triumph when they continue their four-game series against the host Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. Seattle posted a 5-0 victory on Friday but remains a distant 8 1/2 games behind Oakland for the American League's second wild-card berth.
Ryon Healy and Dee Gordon each contributed a two-run single on Friday as the Mariners clinched the season series (10-7) with two games remaining. Mitch Haniger registered his third consecutive two-hit performance and Mike Zunino recorded just his second multi-hit effort since Aug. 8 with a single and a double. Mike Trout struck out twice in three at-bats and was robbed of a homer by Gordon as Los Angeles collected just six hits and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. It was a rare hitless game against Seattle for Trout, who is 27-for-62 with six homers, eight doubles, one triple, 10 RBIs and 15 runs scored versus the Mariners this season.
TV: 9:07 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RHP Erasmo Ramirez (2-3, 5.31 ERA) vs. Angels LH Andrew Heaney (9-9, 3.98)
Ramirez settled for a no-decision against the New York Yankees in his last turn after allowing two runs and six hits over five innings. The 28-year-old has served up 10 homers in just 39 frames, including five to Cleveland on April 27. Ramirez is 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 12 career appearances (eight starts) versus the Angels and has struggled with Trout (10-for-26, two homers).
Heaney was superb in his last outing as he scattered three hits and registered a career-high 12 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings of a win over the White Sox in Chicago. The 27-year-old has won two of his last three turns while striking out 23 against two walks in 19 frames. Heaney is 0-2 with a 5.00 ERA in three starts against Seattle this season and 1-3 with a 3.78 mark in six career outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners LHP James Paxton (pneumonia) and RHP Felix Hernandez (ankle) both are expected to return at some point during the team's 10-game road trip.
2. Los Angeles SS Andrelton Simmons recorded two hits in the series opener and is 6-for-11 over his last three contests.
3. Seattle SS Jean Segura (illness) returned from a three-game absence and went 1-for-5 with a run scored.