Anaheim, CA (My Sportsbook) - Mike Napoli hit his first career game-winning home run to give the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim a 5-3 victory over the
Seattle Mariners in the second installment of a four-game set.
The Angels jumped in front for good during a two-out rally in their final at- bat. Robb Quinlan worked a walk off Miguel Batista (4-13), and Chone Figgins came in to pinch-run. Napoli then stepped to the plate and deposited a 3-1 slider into LA's bullpen beyond the fence in left for the game-winning homer.
"It's a great feeling, I had a good night swinging the bat," said Napoli. "I was trying to drive the ball to the gap, he threw me a cutter away and I put a good swing on it. I've never done that before."
Napoli finished 2-for-2 with four RBI, while Quinlan had a triple, an RBI and scored a run for the AL West-champion Angels, who have won three in a row and five of six.
Starter Joe Saunders lasted seven innings and allowed three runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and only one walk, but came away with a no-decision. Jose Arredondo (8-2) earned the win with a perfect ninth inning.
"I've had my ups and downs this season," said Saunders. "Tonight I didn't have my best stuff, but I didn't have my worst stuff."
Adrian Beltre ended 2-for-4 and had two RBI for the M's, who have dropped six of nine. Raul Ibanez was also 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored once in defeat.
Starter Ryan Rowland-Smith lasted 6 1/3 frames and yielded three runs on four hits, but got a no-decision.
Seattle jumped on top early as Ichiro Suzuki led off the game with an infield single. Yuniesky Betancourt then went down swinging, but Ibanez crushed a double off the top of the wall in right field that Gary Matthews came over from center to field. His throw nailed Suzuki at the plate, but allowed Ibanez to move to third. Beltre plated the runner with a double to left, making it 1-0.
LA grabbed the lead in the second. Juan Rivera worked a one-out walk and came home as Quinlan followed with a triple to right. Napoli followed with an RBI single, making it a 2-1 affair.
The M's rallied to grab the lead back in the fifth. Kenji Johjima led off with a walk, but Miguel Cairo grounded into a force and stole second. Suzuki went down swinging before Betancourt put runners on the corners with a single. Consecutive RBI singles from Ibanez and Beltre put Seattle ahead 3-2.
The Angels tied the game in the seventh inning. Rivera led off with a double and moved to third on Quinlan's ground out. Roy Corcoran was then brought in from the 'pen and gave up the game-tying sac fly to Napoli.
Game Notes
Suzuki now has 192 hits on the year and is within eight of an eighth straight season with at least 200 hits, which would tie Wee Willie Keeler for the most 200-hit seasons to start a career...Seattle stranded seven runners, LA left three on base...Beltre ran his hitting streak to 15 games...Vladimir Guerrero saw his hitting streak stopped at 11 games; he left after two at-bats in the fifth due to right knee irritation...LA has won 16 of 21 against Seattle at home.