Angels 3, Mariners 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Kole Calhoun drove in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Los Angeles Angels a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday in front of 35,243 at Angel Stadium.
The Angels needed their fifth consecutive win and eighth in 10 games to keep pace in the American League's wild-card and divisional races. Los Angeles remained half a game behind the Houston Astros, who hold the second wild-card spot, and moved within 3 1/2 games of the first-place Texas Rangers in the AL West.
The Mariners forged a 2-2 tie in the top of the eighth when pinch-hitter Mark Trumbo hit a solo home run against right-hander Fernando Salas. But Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella hit a leadoff double off right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma in the bottom of the inning by generating his own hustle.
When center fielder Brad Miller retrieved the ball slowly, Giavotella accelerated around first base and barely slid under second baseman Robinson Cano's tag.
Pinch-runner Taylor Featherston replaced Giavotella, moved to third base on shortstop Erick Aybar's sacrifice and scored when Calhoun hit a sharp ground ball through a drawn-in infield past first baseman Jesus Monero and down the right-field line.
Right-hander Mike Morin pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his first save. Salas (5-2) posted his second victory in relief in as many games.
Iwakuma (9-5) induced two double plays and generated 13 groundouts in 7 1/3 innings while allowing three runs and eight hits. The Japanese right-hander finished without a walk or a strikeout.
The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth by solving right-hander Jered Weaver, who used a repertoire that ranged from a 66 mph curveball to an 86 mph fastball to retire the first 10 batters he faced.
With one out, third baseman Kyle Seager doubled down the right-field line for Seattle's first hit. But Aybar made a backhanded catch of designated hitter Nelson Cruz's ground ball in the hole and threw Seager out at third base. Cano's single sent Cruz to second base, and Montero's single brought Cruz home.
Seager's base-running error proved costly in the bottom of the fourth when Los Angeles tied the score against Iwakuma, who yielded just two singles in his first three innings. Center fielder Mike Trout hit a leadoff single, took second when designated hitter Albert Pujols grounded out and scored on left fielder David Murphy's single.
The Mariners hurt themselves on the bases again in the top of the fifth. Catcher John Hicks hit a two-out double, but with shortstop Ketel Marte at the plate, Hicks wandered too far off the base. Angels catcher Carlos Perez threw to Aybar, who started a rundown that eliminated Hicks.
Third baseman David Freese made Seattle pay in the bottom of the fifth when he hit his 13th home run of the season into the second row of the right-field bleachers to put the Angels ahead 2-1. The homer was Freese's second in as many games.
Trumbo responded in the eighth with his 13th home run to tie the score. His solo drive barely skimmed the top of the center-field fence.
NOTES: Seattle LHP Roenis Elias will start Monday night against the Houston Astros. The decision was delayed because LHP James Paxton tore a fingernail in the second inning of his last start on Sept. 24. ... The Mariners' 107 home runs on the road are their most since 1999, when they hit 122. ... Mariners 3B Kyle Seager and 2B Robinson Cano have played in more games since 2012 than any other major leaguer, 628 and 627, respectively. ... Sunday marked the 32nd anniversary of Angels RHP Nolan Ryan setting the season strikeout record. Ryan accomplished the feat in the Angels' 5-4 victory in 11 innings over the Minnesota Twins. ... Angels CF Mike Trout has not made an error in 411 total chances this season.