By Greg Beacham | The Associated Press
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Marco Gonzales retired 21 consecutive Angels while throwing a four-hitter, and Jose Marmolejos hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning of the Seattle Mariners’ 2-1 victory over Los Angeles on Monday.
Gonzales (4-2) had eight strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter until the ninth inning of his second career complete game. After Justin Upton’s leadoff homer in the second inning, Gonzales retired every batter he faced until pinch-hitter Shohei Ohtani’s leadoff single in the ninth.
Andrelton Simmons followed Ohtani with another single, but Mike Trout hit a line drive right at third baseman Kyle Seager for a double play. Anthony Rendon drew Gonzales’ first walk of the day on four pitches, but Albert Pujols popped out meekly to shortstop to end Gonzales’ third victory over the Angels already this season.
Marmolejos and Jake Fraley had two hits apiece as the Mariners rallied to split a four-game series at the Big A after losing the first two.
Both of these AL West clubs are outside the playoff picture, which turned them into sellers at Monday’s trade deadline. Seattle made multiple big moves that led to the departures of closer Taylor Williams, catcher Austin Nola and relievers Austin Adams and Dan Altavilla, while the Angels dealt big leaguers Tommy La Stella, Brian Goodwin and Jason Castro.
Gonzales worked quickly and decisively while throwing 102 pitches in an overwhelming performance that underlined his ace status for Seattle — particularly when he’s facing the Angels, who have no answers for left-handed pitchers of his caliber.
Simmons singled to lead off the first inning, but it was actually a popup that got lost in the sun, and Gonzales retired the next three Angels.
Upton then connected in the second inning for his fourth homer of the season. The veteran outfielder appears to be emerging from a horrific slump that included just two hits over four weeks, and Goodwin’s departure likely means everyday playing time for Upton in September.
But the Angels didn’t get another baserunner until Ohtani’s broken-bat single in the ninth.
Seattle tied it in the third when Fraley tripled to right and scored on a single by Joseph Odom, who’s likely to play more regularly with Nola’s departure.
Marmolejos put the Mariners ahead with his third homer in five days, connecting off reliever Matt Andriese (1-2) after Jaime Barria pitched five-hit ball into the fifth inning of a spot start for the Angels.
Jahmai Jones made his major league debut as a pinch-runner for Simmons in the ninth inning.
Trainer’s room
Dylan Moore could rejoin the active roster this week, Seattle manager Scott Servais said. He has been out for 10 days with a sprained right wrist. Catcher Tom Murphy isn’t close to making his season debut after breaking a bone in his foot. That means the Mariners will go with rookies Odom and Joe Hudson as their catchers, at least until new acquisition Luis Torrens is ready to play.
Two games postponed
The Mariners are headed home to Seattle, but won’t play until Thursday at the earliest.
The first two games of a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics have been postponed after a positive COVID-19 test in the A’s organization.
Results from tests done Sunday afternoon yielded no more positive results. All remaining A’s players and staff members tested negative for COVID-19.
Oakland has not identified which member of the traveling party tested positive. It’s unclear whether the positive test came from a player, a coach or another staff member.
