The Seattle Mariners led for eight innings of Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Angels, but the string of awful Brandon League outings continued and Seattle ended up taking a 6-4 loss.
Justin Smoak was the entirety of the Mariners offense in the early innings, it seemed. He drove in the first run on the game in the bottom of the first on an RBI groundout. He singled in the Mariners' second run in the bottom of the third.
In the fifth, Smoak added his third and fourth RBI of the game on a two-run shot to right field. Smoak's sixth home run of the year made it 4-0 M's.
The Angels cut that lead down to size in the top of the sixth, as Albert Pujols hit his sixth homer of the season to make it 4-3 Seattle.
The Mariners were able to hold the Angels there until the ninth inning. Brandon League came in for the save and gave up a leadoff single to Mark Trumbo and Peter Bourjos came in to pinch-run. League walked Alberto Callaspo to set up an Erick Aybar sacrifice bunt play. The bunt was not a good one, but League threw the ball wide of third base and into left field, which allowed the tying run to score. The Mariners then intentionally walked the bases loaded to set up the force out. Howie Kendrick knocked a single up the middle on the first pitch to drive in two runs for a 6-4 Angels lead.
The Mariners still have a chance to split the four-game series by winning the weekend games at Safeco Field.
For all news and information regarding the Seattle Mariners, please visit Lookout Landing. For updates and perspective on the Los Angeles Angels, head on over to Halos Heaven or stop by SB Nation Los Angeles.
