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The game was nearly won after only two innings on Saturday, as eight runs through two gave the Angels a lead they’d cruise with the rest of the way. The bats were clicking on all cylinders as they took down the Mariners, 10-5.
It wasn’t a tied game for long, as Mike Trout put the Angels on the board right away with a two-run shot, his seventh home run of the season. With two outs, Jared Walsh added another run with a solo shot, his fifth of the season. You’ll be seeing his name mentioned again very shortly.
After scoring three runs in the first, the Angels tacked on five runs in the second. After Trout was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs, Anthony Rendon made sure to make Seattle pay. He hit a bases clearing double, putting the Halos up 6-0. Remember how I said we’d be hearing from Walsh again? Well, here it is already. He crushed a two-run homer, his second in only two innings to give the Angels an 8-0 lead.
Rendon added more RBI to his night in the fourth inning. With two outs, he hit a two-run homer to give the Angels a very comfortable 10-1 lead. He finished the night with five runs batted in.
The Angels needed to have a good start from a starter, as the last week has been brutal for the rotation. Luckily for them, Griffin Canning delivered. He allowed one run (unearned) on three hits in 5 1⁄3 innings of work. Canning struck out nine and issued only two walks. On the night, he recorded 23 swings-and-misses, with half of them coming on his offspeed stuff.
It was by far his best outing of the season, as he had allowed eight runs in only 4 2⁄3 innings of action over his last two starts. His ERA on the season dropped from 8.40 to 6.20 after this start. Hopefully for Canning and the Angels, they can build off this start and the rest of the starting rotation can get going.
Saturday particulars
WP: Griffin Canning (2-2) 5 1⁄3 IP, 0 ER, 9 SO, 2 BB
LP: Ljay Newsome (1-1) 2 IP, 8 ER, 7 H
HR: Mike Trout (7) Jared Walsh 2 (6) Anthony Rendon (2) Mitch Haniger (7)