Recap: LA Angels vs. Seattle
Sports Network | August 14, 2008
Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Wladimir Balentien hit the go-ahead three-run homer in the 12th inning as the Seattle Mariners gutted out a 10-7 victory to earn a two-game split with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Justin Speier (1-5) was on the mound for the Angels in the 12th and gave up a lead off double to Raul Ibanez. Adrian Beltre then moved the runner to third with a grounder and Jose Lopez was intentionally walked. Pinch-hitter Tug Hulett flied out, but Balentien deposited a 1-1 fastball over the fence just out of the reach of a leaping Torii Hunter for a 10-7 Seattle lead.
"It was an off night for me, but I didn't give up," Balentien said. "I wasn't trying to do too much, but he threw me a fastball and I got some wood on it."
Felix Hernandez lasted seven innings and was touched for four runs on eight hits while fanning eight and walking three batters, though he received a no- decision. Roy Corcoran (3-0) got the win by throwing the final three innings and not giving up a run.
Ibanez went 4-for-5 with a solo homer and finished with two RBI for the Mariners, who halted their four-game skid. Jeremy Reed drove in two runs in the win.
Mark Teixeira went 3-for-6, including a pair of homers, and ended with three RBI for the Angels, who saw their five-game win streak halted. Vladimir Guerrero drove in a run and Maicer Izturis added an RBI before leaving with a thumb injury.
Ervin Santana lasted 6 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on seven hits while striking out seven. Francisco Rodriguez blew his fifth save of the year as he gave up three runs on three hits while getting only one out in the ninth.
The M's got on the board in the first inning. Reed smacked a one-out double to center before Ibanez made the second out via a pop up. Beltre then brought the runner around with a line drive single to left.
LA got the run back in the home half, though. Izturis reached on a single, moved to third on Teixeira's single and crossed home as Guerrero singled to center. The Angels broke the tie in the third as Izturis singled and Teixeira followed with a homer. Teixeira's 23rd blast of the year put LA up 3-1.
Ibanez led off the sixth with a homer, cutting Seattle's deficit to 3-2.
Runners were on the corners as Bryan LaHair doubled and Yuniesky Betancourt singled in the seventh. Jose Arredondo was then called on in relief of Santana and gave up an RBI ground out to Ichiro Suzuki which knotted the game at 3-3.
The Angels took the lead back in the home half. Jeff Mathis led off with a single, moved to second on Chone Figgins' sac bunt and crossed home plate as Izturis followed with a double.
Seattle tied it at four in the eighth as Jeff Clement's single scored Ibanez from third.
Cesar Jimenez started on the hill for Seattle in the eighth and walked Garret Anderson before being replaced by Sean Green. Howie Kendrick then doubled to put the runners in scoring position. Juan Rivera's sac bunt scored Anderson and put Kendrick on third and Mathis' sac fly made it 6-4.
Seattle rallied to take the lead off Rodriguez in the ninth. Miguel Cairo led off with a walk and Betancourt singled before Suzuki flied out. Reed then crushed a two-run double to the gap in right-center and the game was tied. Ibanez kept it going with an RBI single up the middle and it was 7-6.
After the Ibanez single, Rodriguez was yanked in favor of Darren Oliver. On his way to the dugout Rodriguez expressed his qualms with home plate umpire Gerry Davis' strike zone and was ejected from the contest.
"This was an embarrassing outing for me tonight," Rodriguez said. "I have to let it go and look forward to the next game."
Teixeira tied the game at seven as he led off the home ninth with a homer to center field off J.J. Putz.
It was Teixeira's 21st multi-homer game...Anderson ran his hitting streak to 18 games...Suzuki had his hitting streak snapped at 17 games...The Angels fell to 7-4 versus the Mariners this year and 20-10 in the series since the start of last season.
