Shohei Ohtani led off the game with a home run and Jared Walsh added a two-run shot as the Los Angeles Angels defeated host Seattle 7-3 Sunday afternoon, thwarting the Mariners’ bid for their first postseason appearance since 2001.
The Mariners (90-72) had a chance to force their way into a playoff for the American League’s second and final wild-card berth but needed to beat the Angels and have either Boston or the New York Yankees lose. None of those happened.
After the Red Sox’s victory in Washington was completed, clinching the Mariners’ fate, Seattle manager Scott Servais pulled veteran third baseman Kyle Seager off the field with one out in the ninth inning to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd. Despite 35 homers and 101 RBIs this season, the Mariners aren’t expected to pick up the option on Seager’s contract.
The Angels (77-85) jumped ahead early, scoring twice in each of the first two innings against left-hander Tyler Anderson (7-11).
Ohtani led off by lining a 1-1 pitch over the right-field wall for his 46th homer of the season. Phil Gosselin followed with a single and went to third on an errant pickoff throw by Anderson that allowed him to get to third. With two outs, Jack Mayfield beat out an infield single to make it 2-0.
In the second, Jose Rojas walked and advanced to second on Luis Rengifo’s sacrifice bunt. David Fletcher doubled to score Rojas and, after an intentional walk to Ohtani, Gosselin singled to load the bases. Walsh hit a sacrifice fly to increase Los Angeles’ advantage to 4-0.
The Mariners scored twice in the bottom of the inning as Luis Torrens led off with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch by Reid Detmers. Jarred Kelenic singled to score the first run and J.P.
Crawford came through with a two-out single to plate Kelenic.
Walsh’s two-run shot in the fourth off Anthony Misiewicz gave the Angels a 6-2 lead.
They added another run in the fifth as David Fletcher’s two-out triple scored Juan Lagares, who led off the inning with a single.
The Mariners got a run back in the sixth as Crawford grounded into a fielder’s choice with one out and the bases loaded.
The Angels’ Oliver Ortega (1-0) got his first major league victory with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
–Field Level Media