Mariners 3, Angels 1
SEATTLE -- The Los Angeles Angels lost their starting pitcher to a fifth-inning ejection, dropped their series finale to the Seattle Mariners 3-1 on Wednesday, and they are beginning to lose their grip on any kind of wild-card hopes.
Los Angeles (73-72) dropped its third game in four days and is four games out of the American League's second wild-card spot. The Angels went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Angels starter Jered Weaver (7-11) got thrown out of the game for hitting Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager with a pitch in the fifth inning.
Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma (8-4) allowed one run on four hits over six innings. The Angels' lone run came on a solo homer from left fielder David Murphy in the sixth.
Mariners first baseman Jesus Montero hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning to account for all of Seattle's offense in the win.
The Mariners (71-76) have won five of their past eight.
The Angels left five runners on base and continually failed to capitalize on opportunities. Los Angeles squandered a prime chance in the eighth, when the Angels had runners on the corners with one out. But they came up empty because of back-to-back strikeouts. Seattle reliever Carson Smith fanned right fielder Kole Calhoun for the second out, then he caught Angels star center fielder Mike Trout chasing an outside slider for an inning-ending strikeout to maintain the Mariners' 3-1 lead.
Seattle closer Tom Wilhelmsen pitched a scoreless ninth for his 11th save of the season.
Weaver was ejected in the bottom of the fifth, when he was ruled to have intentionally hit Seager with a 1-0 pitch.
After the first pitch, Seager called for a late timeout and then appeared to exchange words with Weaver. Home-plate umpire Brian O'Nara stepped in front of Seager and had a few words with him, then Seager exaggeratedly called for another timeout.
Weaver plunked him in the shoulder with the next pitch and was immediately ejected as two or three players emerged from the Seattle dugout but didn't get past the dirt.
Weaver allowed six hits and three runs over 4 2/3 innings.
A two-out, three-run homer from Montero put the Mariners ahead 3-0. Montero is now 6-for-12 with five home runs against Weaver in his career.
The game remained scoreless before the Montero home run, although both teams had plenty of chances. Angels catcher Carlos Perez was thrown out at home trying to score on a grounder in the top of the third inning, then the Mariners found an unusual way to run out of a scoring chance in the bottom of that frame.
Seattle shortstop Ketel Marte got a one-out single and appeared to move to third base on a steal and what was originally ruled to be a throwing error on Perez. Perez's throw to second base went off Marte's leg as he slid toward the bag, then the Seattle shortstop got to his feet and ran to third.
Only after a brief argument from the Los Angeles dugout and a trip to the mound from manager Mike Scioscia did the Angels appeal that Marte never touched second base. With Marte standing on third, the Angels' Weaver made a soft toss to second base, where umpire Kerwin Danley called Marte out.
NOTES: The Angels had almost an identical lineup Wednesday to the one that beat Seattle on Tuesday night. LF David Murphy was back in the leadoff spot, only the second time Los Angeles has had him in that role. ... Los Angeles closer Huston Street told reporters after Tuesday's win that he had lost 13 pounds while battling flu-like symptoms since the weekend. Street was unavailable for that game but was expected to be ready if called upon Wednesday night. ... After Wednesday's game, the Mariners were scheduled to have two of the next five days off. Seattle finished a 10-day homestand Wednesday, was scheduled to take Thursday off, then opened a three-game series at Texas before taking Monday off as well. ... The Angels were scheduled to travel to Minnesota after Wednesday's game. Los Angeles opens a four-game series against the Twins on Thursday.