The Seattle Mariners didn't get a chance to play spoiler after all as they opened their final series of the year against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night. Felix Hernandez was torched for seven runs as the Angels rolled to an 8-4 victory at Safeco Field. Although the Angels were eliminated from playoff contention thanks to an Oakland Athletics win over the Texas Rangers during the game, the Mariners are hoping they can still salvage a series win to close out the 2012 season.
The Angels jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an Albert Pujols RBI double and RBI singles from Mark Trumbo and Howie Kendrick. Casper Wells got one of those runs back for the Mariners in the bottom of the first on a Casper Wells home run.
In the top of the fourth, Mike Trout hit an RBI single to make it 4-1 Angels. Los Angeles broke the game wide open in the sixth, as Trout drove in two runs with a triple and came in to score on a single from Torii Hunter, making it 7-1. The Mariners were able to score three runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh on a Justin Smoak double, a fielding error by Kendrick and an RBI single from Trayvon Robinson that made it 7-4.
The Angels added one final run on an RBI double by Kendrick in the top of the ninth.
Hernandez lasted just 5.1 innings, giving up seven runs on 12 hits and three walks, striking out seven but taking the loss in his final start of the year.