Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. Soriano allowed one run and three hits in 7 2/3 innings. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
SEATTLE — When the Seattle Angels and Mariners met Tuesday night, it was hard to tell which team is in the championship race and which is preparing to move players before next week’s trade deadline.
The Angels took advantage of the Mariners’ sloppy defense and anemic hitting to beat them 5-1, their fifth straight victory against the team that has now blown a 10-game division lead in a month.
The Angels (44-57) are simply trying to “learn how to win,” as manager Ron Washington often says, while gaining momentum for next season.
That starts with the continued solid work of right-hander José Soriano, a 25-year-old who is becoming more established with each outing.
Soriano allowed one run in 7⅔ innings, lowering his ERA to 3.51 after 95 innings and 16 starts.
Soriano has beaten the Mariners in each of his last two starts, limiting Seattle to two runs in 13⅔ innings.
Soriano had no problems until the fifth inning, when he allowed a double, threw a wild pitch and walked.
With runners on the corners and no one out, Washington came to the mound to talk to Soriano. No one was even warming up in the bullpen, so it was clearly a motivational visit.
Soriano forced a double play and then grounded out, escaping the jam with just one run scored. He then retired all six batters he faced in the sixth and seventh innings before allowing a one-out single in the eighth.
While Soriano certainly deserves credit for his work, it’s worth noting that the Mariners, even when playing well, are not a good offensive team. On Tuesday, they placed star center fielder Julio Rodriguez and leadoff hitter JP Crawford on the injured list.
The Angels’ offense also did nothing against Seattle’s Logan Gilbert until the fifth inning.
Logan O’Hoppe led off the inning with a single, the Angels’ first baserunner of the game. Nolan Schanuel then singled. Brandon Drury flied out to third and Josh Rojas bounced his throw across the diamond for an error.
Mickey Moniak drew a four-pitch, bases-loaded walk, which was unusual because Gilbert is one of the best control pitchers in baseball and Moniak rarely walks.
Zach Neto laid down a safety bunt down the first-base line. Gilbert fielded it and threw wildly toward the plate. Two runs scored on the play, with the second scoring because Rojas obstructed Drury as he attempted to score.
Luis Rengifo, in his first game back after three weeks on the disabled list, hit a two-run single to center, putting the Angels up 5-0.
As the inning came to a close, fans at T-Mobile Park were booing the home team, which has now lost 19 of its last 28 games.
More information on this story will be available soon.
