Final Score in Anaheim: Angels 5 - Mariners 0
The Angels are within one game of their ninth Western Division Title.
David Freese broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh inning with a single that was misplayed by Seattle's Chris Denorfia to bring in Howie Kendrick from 2B.
It was all they needed, but the Angels piled on. With two on C.J. Cron hit a blast to Right Centerfield to make the game 4-0 and they would pile on a little more to make it an easy night with Joe Smith and Huston Street each pitching an inning just to get some work in.
The reason it was a laugher is that C.J. Wilson pitched the best game of his Angels career - seven innings of one-hit ball over a Mariners team that scored thirteen runs against us last night. Wilson absolutely needed to step up as a member of a horrifically depleted pitching staff - With Matt Shoemaker pulling an oblique muscle Monday night the staff is down to CJ, Weave and Just Believe. Entering the playoffs, it would be best to have a dominant starter in the team's arsenal instead of the nibbler we have come to know him as.
Wilson threw an eight-pitch first inning and that was the sign we needed. It was a great pitching duel as James Paxton struck out eight Halos, including Mike Trout three times. Paxton allowed only two hits in the first six innings but the floodgates opened when Denorfia aggressively went after a sharp Freese single with Howie on base - when the ball made it past the outfielder, Kendrick turned on the jets. Trout struck out a fourth time against reliever Dominic Leone.
Light up the Halo. The Magic Number is One.