ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Angels’ bats were only productive for two at-bats on Sunday.
Mariners starter George Kirby was perfect until Mike Trout’s two-strike single with two outs in the fourth inning. Three pitches later, Taylor Ward launched his 18th home run of the season into the Angels’ bullpen for a two-run home run to give the Angels a 2-1 lead.
But that was all the Angels (30-34) could do at the plate as they dropped the series finale to the Mariners (33-31), 3-2.
With the single and run scored, Trout moved up in the record books and tied Rickey Henderson for the most runs scored all-time against the Mariners with 145 and tied Rafael Palmeiro for most total bases all-time against the Mariners with 435.
After the Ward homer, the Angels didn't get another baserunner until Jorge Soler's leadoff walk in the ninth. The offense as a whole finished the game with just two hits and 18 strikeouts, which is a new season-high.
Kirby finished his day going seven innings while only allowing two runs on two hits, walking none and striking out 14 Angels hitters.
"George (Kirby) is always a tough at-bat, but today was especially tough," Logan O'Hoppe said. "He didn't make any mistakes."
On the mound for the Angels, Tyler Anderson ran into deep counts and faced heavy traffic on the bases. He gave up three runs on eight hits, a walk and struck out six in 4.2 innings.
"I thought he fought well," manager Ron Washington said. "I thought they battled him from pitch one. By the time he got to two outs in the fifth inning, he was more or less out of pitches. But, he bent but he didn't break and we still had an opportunity to win that ballgame."
The bullpen was once again masterful. After being responsible for 5.2 innings of work the night before, the bullpen was tasked with getting through 4.1 innings in this one. In those 4.1 innings, the bullpen held the Mariners scoreless.
It all started with Hunter Strickland, who relieved Anderson with runners on first and second and two outs in the fifth inning. He proceeded to throw 2.1 scoreless innings before handing the ball off to José Fermín.
Strickland hasn’t allowed a run yet in eight appearances since signing a minor league deal with the Angels in early May.
"(Stricklands') been godsend for us," Washington said. "Whatever role we try to use him in, he's been superior in it. We tried to stretch him out today because he was weak in the bullpen and he handled it extremely well, just like the pro that he is."
Fermín tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of his own with three strikeouts and Brock Burke came in for the last out needed in the top half of the ninth.
Heading into Sunday's game, the Angels' bullpen has been the sixth-best in baseball since May 18, posting a 2.76 ERA. A stark difference from the 7.04 bullpen ERA before May 18.
"They come in the game and feeling super convicted in what they're doing, and I feel that getting back there, too," O'hoppe said. "I'm happy we're able to build off each other in that sense, and really proud of what they've done."
Despite the loss, the Angels still take the series over the Mariners and will face the Athletics next at The Big A starting Monday night.
