Felix Hernandez Excels for Seattle Mariners; Angels Fall 3.5 Behind Rangers

Angels third baseman Alberto Callaspo committed his 14th error of the season Tuesday in the first inning, allowing the Mariners to open the scoring for Tuesday night's game at Angel Stadium.  Felix Hernandez was solid on the mound throughout the night, offering little chance for the Angels to get on the board early. 

Callaspo struggled to position himself, allowing two passed balls in the first three innings.

Hernandez and Angels starter Ervin Santana entered the game with the same ERA at 3.26. Santana recovered from a bases-loaded situation in the second inning, but allowed base runners in each of the first three innings while his team was held scoreless. Santana looked a bit shaken in the third, throwing multiple pick-off attempts to the distraction of the moderately paced speed of Dustin Ackley on first base, who eventually stole second.

The importance of this game was magnified by an 8-0 win for the Rangers against the Rays, keeping the pressure on the Angels. Maybe the pressure was palpable as Erick Aybar committed the third Angel error of the game and his 12th of the season in the top of the fourth inning.

Kyle Seager followed the mistake with a stolen base to move into scoring position, and infielder hesitation and base hits created a 2-0 Mariner lead from unearned runs in the fourth.

King Felix commanded ground ball outs through three before striking out three by the end of the fourth inning. The impressive veteran Torii Hunter dove sideways and barrel rolled to end the fifth inning for the Mariners, who still held a two-run lead preventing Justin Smoak from scoring after his second hit of the evening.

Ichiro Suzuki made a similarly amazing play to retire Vernon Wells, which instructed his look-a-like to dance alongside the first base line, invoking fans to laugh at the occasion. Mike Trout was called into the game to pinch hit for Bobby Wilson after Peter Bourjos stole first on a strike out and then second on his own. Bourjos was the first Angel to reach third base in the fifth, but was left stranded.

Santana reached 100 pitches in the top of the sixth and continued to put runners on base. Hunter provided the first Angel run after bunting to get on base, courtesy of Callaspo's base hit. However, the Mariners were still on top 2-1 through six frames.

Through eight innings the score was untouched. Brandon League entered the game in the bottom of the ninth to retire Mark Trumbo and Callaspo and set up a full count before inducing a ground ball to Wells.