Mariners vs. Angels final score: Seattle avoids sweep with 9-4 win

The Seattle Mariners successfully avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday afternoon in Anaheim. More than that, the M's were able to prevent the Angels from taking advantage of an Oakland Athletics loss earlier in the day and moving to within a game of the second Wild Card spot.

Vernon Wells hit an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning to give the Angels an early lead. In the top of the fourth, John Jaso hit a two-run homer to put the Mariners on top, 2-1. Alberto Callaspo hit an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to tie things up, 2-2, but Seattle would reclaim the lead in the top of the fifth when Casper Wells scored on a Franklin Gutierrez groundout.

The Mariners finally broke through in the top of the seventh with a big four-run inning. Garrett Richards issued a bases-loaded walk to Trayvon Robinson and gave up a single to Kyle Seager that scored Wells and made it 5-2 Mariners. Seattle was not finished in the inning, as Jesus Montero lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Dustin Ackley and John Jaso drove in Robinson with a double.

Howie Kendrick roped a two-out, two-run double down the left field line off of Josh Kinney in the bottom of the eighth inning to bring the Angels to within three runs of the lead. The Mariners got those runs right back in the top of the ninth, however, as Dustin Ackley scored on a sacrifice bunt and throwing error by LaTroy Hawkins and Montero hit an RBI double to push the Seattle lead back out to 9-4.

Mariners vs. Angels: Game time, TV schedule and more

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will host the Seattle Mariners for the final time in 2012 this afternoon, and they'll do so sitting two games behind the Oakland A's for the American League's final Wild Card spot. The Mariners will still welcome the Angels to Seattle for the final series of the season after heading to Oakland this weekend.

Seattle will send Hisashi Iwakuma to the mound on Thursday as they hope to play spoiler for their divisional foe. Iwakuma is 7-5 with a 3.41 ERA in his first season in Major League Baseball.

The Angels will be countering with Dan Haren. Haren has compiled a 12-11 record in 2012 with a disappointing 4.35 ERA. Haren has been on a roll of late though, sporting a 2.45 ERA over his last six starts.

First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 p.m. PT on Thursday afternoon. ROOT Sports will have the television coverage in the Seattle area, while 710 ESPN will carry the local radio broadcast.

Mariners vs. Angels final score: Seattle can't hang on to lead, loses 4-3

The Seattle Mariners put up another valiant fight against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night. Unfortunately, not even a quality start from Felix Hernandez was able to hold up, as the Mariners dropped the second game of the three-game series by a final of 4-3.

The Angels opened up the scoring in the bottom of the second inning on a two-run double by Erick Aybar. The Mariners tied things up in the top of the third on an RBI single from Brendan Ryan and a sacrifice fly from Franklin Gutierrez.

Justin Smoak hit his third home run in two days in the fourth inning to put the Mariners on top, 3-2. It was the 19th homer of the season for Smoak, who continues to be great in September and ... less-great ... in other months. That home run put Hernandez in line for the win, but the bullpen was unable to hold the lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Torii Hunter dropped a flare into right field that scored the tying run.

Maicer Izturis led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to right. A wild pitch by Stephen Pryor allowed Izturis to take second base and Bourjos bunted him over to third. The Mariners intentionally walked Mike Trout to pitch to Hunter, who lined a single to right field for the walk-off win.

Hernandz ended up with six innings pitched, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out nine.

Mariners vs. Angels final score: Justin Smoak leads charge but Seattle falls short

The Seattle Mariners put up a good fight on Tuesday night but eventually dropped their series opener against the Los Angeles Angels by a final score of 5-4.

The Angels scored twice in the bottom of the first inning, thanks to an RBI single from Albert Pujols and a sacrifice fly from Alberto Callaspo.

Justin Smoak finally got the Mariners on the board in the top of the fourth, as a fly ball to right field was reviewed anns stood up as a home run, cutting the Angels lead in half.

The Angels got some breathing room in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Torii Hunter hit a home run that made it 4-1 Los Angeles. Erick Aybar tacked on another home run in the sixth that made it 5-1.

Although Zack Greinke left the game in just the fifth inning due to a high pitch count, he struck out 13 Mariners batters and allowed just two walks. Although Greinke gave up seven hits, he held Seattle to one run on the Smoak home run.

The Mariners finally had a big inning in the top of the seventh. Franklin Gutierrez hit an RBI double and Smoak hit a two-out, two-run homer to left. Smoak became just the fourth Mariner ever to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game. The last Mariner to accomplish the feat was David Segui, way back in 1998.

The Mariners were unable to bring any more runs home as Seattle batters struck out a total of 19 times in the game.

Angels vs. Mariners lineups: Seattle prepares to face Mike Trout and co.

The Los Angeles Angels will try to hang on to their slim American League Wild Card hopes, as the Seattle Mariners look to play the role of spoiler when the two teams open a three-game series on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.

The Halos, who trail the Oakland Athletics by two games for the second AL Wild Card spot, are looking to win their fourth game in a row and their seventh game out of their last 10. The Mariners are coming off taking two of three games from the Texas Rangers in a weekend series.

The Angels will send right-hander Zack Greinke (14-5, 3.47) to the mound. Greinke has been stellar in his last five starts for the Halos, posting a 3-0 record with a 1.69 ERA.

Seattle will counter with rookie Erasmo Ramirez (1-2, 3.28). The right-hander is making his seventh start for the Mariners after posting a 6-3 and a 3.72 ERA in 15 starts for Triple-A Tacoma in 2012.

Los Angeles Angels (84-69)

1. Mike Trout (R) CF
2. Torii Hunter (R) RF
3. Albert Pujols (R) 1B
4. Kendrys Morales (S) DH
5. Alberto Callaspo (S) 3B
6. Erick Aybar (S) SS
7. Maicer Izturis (S) 2B
8. Mark Trumbo (R) LF
9. Chris Iannetta (R) C

Seattle Mariners (72-81)

1. Dustin Ackley (L) 2B
2. Franklin Gutierrez (R) CF
3. Kyle Seager (L) 3B
4. John Jaso (L) DH
5. Justin Smoak (S) 1B
6. Michael Saunders (L) RF
7. Miguel Olivo (R) C
8. Trayvon Robinson (S) LF
9. Brendan Ryan (R) SS

This story originally appeared on SB Nation LA.

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