Zunino's HR Caps Big First Inning As Mariners Beat Angels 6-4

LOS ANGELES (AP) —Mike Zunino capped Seattle's six-run first inning with a three-run home run off Tim Lincecum, and the Mariners held on for a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.

Seattle overcame a rough first from starter Felix Hernandez and rallied with its largest first-inning output since scoring seven runs on May 15, 2013 against the New York Yankees. Seattle sent up 10 batters and recorded seven hits against Lincecum (2-6), capped by Zunino's sixth homer of the season.

Zunino fell behind 0-2, held back on a trio of borderline pitches, then golfed the 3-2 pitch into the bullpen beyond the wall in left field.

Hernandez (6-4) settled down after giving up a three-run shot to Mike Trout in the first. He retired 12 of the next 13 after Trout's 20th homer and picked up his second win since coming off the disabled list.

Hernandez gave up a double to Yunel Escobar on the first pitch of the game, Trout's homer two batters later and a solo shot by Jett Bandy leading off the fifth. Otherwise, the Angels could not solve Hernandez, who struck out six and walked three. Hernandez completed eight innings for the first time this season and first since Sept. 10, 2015 against Texas.

Rookie Edwin Diaz struck out the side in the ninth for his third save in three chances.

Lincecum was already teetering in the Angels' rotation, and Friday's rough start could finally lead them to make a move. It was his third straight start giving up at least four earned runs and he almost didn't make it out of the first inning. Seattle started with four straight singles, including an RBI base hit by Robinson Cano. After a pop out, Adam Lind singled following by Leonys Martin's sacrifice fly that was deep enough to score Cano from third.

Zunino followed with one of the more impressive at-bats of his young career. After falling behind 0-2, Zunino fouled off a pair of pitches then watched Lincecum miss low with three straight changeups. He didn't miss the fourth changeup thrown at his knees.

Lincecum finished 3 1/3 innings, giving up nine hits and six earned runs.

TRAINER'S ROOM:

Angels: RHP Garrett Richards has shown additional healing in the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Richards will begin internal-rotation exercises to test his readiness to begin throwing. Richards received a stem-cell injection in May in an attempt to avoid Tommy John surgery.

Mariners: SS Ketel Marte was scheduled to play six or seven innings in the field for Class A Everett on Friday. Marte has been on the disabled list since July 23 with mononucleosis and could be activated later this weekend.

UP NEXT

Angels: Tyler Skaggs (1-0) makes his third start of the season. Skaggs got a no decision in his last start against Boston despite throwing 5 1/3 shutout innings.

Mariners: Taijuan Walker (4-7) returns from the disabled list to make his first start since July 5. Walker was sidelined by tendinitis in his right foot.

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