SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners extended their winning streak to seven games Friday night, stifling the Los Angeles angels’ offence in a 2-1 victory. The Mariners’ success keeps them tied with the Houston Astros for the lead in the American League West as they push toward the postseason.
A decisive seventh-inning home run by catcher Mitch Garver proved to be the difference. Garver connected on a fastball from reliever Connor Brogdon (3-2) and sent it over the left-field fence for his ninth home run of the season.
the Mariners initially took the lead in the fourth inning thanks to a two-out, two-strike RBI double from Jorge Polanco. Polanco drove in Cal Raleigh, who had previously doubled, with a well-placed hit off yusei Kikuchi.
The Angels didn’t break the scoreless spell until the seventh,when Logan Davidson’s RBI double tied the game against Seattle reliever Carlos Vargas (5-5).
Seattle’s bullpen then shut down the Angels, culminating in Andrés Muñoz securing his 35th save of the season with three consecutive outs.
A pivotal defensive play in the sixth inning saw Mariners right fielder Victor Robles prevent a potential two-run double by robbing Angels cleanup hitter Taylor Ward of extra bases.
Polanco continues to be a force at the plate, extending his streak of consecutive games with a double to five, matching the longest active streak in MLB and representing the longest such streak for a Mariners player since Raúl Ibañez in 2004.
Saturday’s matchup will feature Angels left-hander Mitch Farris (1-0, 2.45 ERA) against Mariners right-hander bryan Woo (13-7, 3.02).
