Crawford's slam and Miller's arm lead surging Mariners to 9-0 win over Angels
J.P. Crawford hit a grand slam, Bryce Miller struck out nine in six smooth innings and the Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-0 on Saturday.
Miller (5-5) allowed just three hits for the Mariners, who lead the AL West on June 1 for the first time since 2003. They have won seven straight home series and six of their last seven games overall. Seattle (33-27) is a season-high six games over .500.
Miller gave up leadoff singles in the first and second but never permitted a runner past second base. It was the second-year right-hander's 11th career game with six or more innings with three or fewer hits allowed, and the ninth time this season he's held an opponent to two or fewer earned runs. His eight quality starts bring the Mariners' major league-leading total to 36.
Three relievers finished the six-hitter. Seattle is 29-12 when its starters pitch six or more innings.
Angels starter Reid Detmers (3-6) set up Crawford's fourth-inning slam, a line drive to right field, with a pair of walks that loaded the bases. He yielded four hits and five earned runs with three strikeouts and four walks in 3 2/3 innings.
Cal Raleigh hit a two-run double to cap a four-run sixth. Luke Raley had a solo homer and Julio Rodríguez added his second RBI single of the game. The star center fielder has reached base safely in eight straight games after a slow start.
PURE BLISS
Fill-in 2B Ryan Bliss displayed his athletic potential, picking up his first major league hit in his fourth game for Seattle as a replacement for injured Jorge Polanco. Bliss also stole his first two bases, manufacturing a run to make it 1-0 in the third on Rodríguez's first RBI single. He then showed his toughness after taking a shot to the head while successfully tagging up on a flyball in the sixth. Bliss scored from second on another single by Rodríguez after a visit from an athletic trainer.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: 1B Nolan Schanuel missed his second straight game with a sore left thumb. Manager Ron Washington said Schanuel had improved but wasn't sure if he would return to the lineup Sunday.
Mariners: LHP Gabe Speier experienced shoulder pain following his last outing Wednesday and has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a left rotator cuff strain. Speier underwent an MRI on Friday, manager Scott Servais said. Seattle recalled RHP Collin Snider, who started the season with the team and appeared in three games before being sent to Triple-A Tacoma. Speier was 0-2 with a 6.06 ERA in 16 1/3 innings.
UP NEXT
Angels RHP Griffin Canning (2-4, 5.08 ERA) closes out the series against RHP Luis Castillo (4-6, 3.28).
