Angels Take 3 of 4 from Mariners

It wasn't always pretty, but California held serve at home to take 3 of 4 from the Mariners and remain  in second place in the AL West.

Nolan Ryan took the hill in Game 1 for the Halos, but really struggled. He walked 6 and yielded 9 hits in only 6 innings, surrendering 8 runs in the process. Seattle took a 8-4 lead into the bottom of the 8th, the Angels scored 3 off reliever Steve Burke, paced by a 2-run triple from the bat of backup catcher Ike Hampton. Angels reliever Dave LaRoche held the Mariners scoreless in the 9th, and then the fun started. With Burke still on the mound, Lyman Bostock walked. He was singled to 2nd by Brian Downing. In came Mariners close Shane Rawley to face Don Baylor. On a full count, Baylor blasted a walk off 3-run homer to Left and the Angels took home the 10-8 win.

Game 2 was not close, as the Mariners took advantage of 11 walks (!) from Angels pitchers to win 8-2. Seattle starter Byron McLaughlin went 7 2/3 to pick up the 8-2 win.

Game  3 was another tense affair.  Mariners starter Dick Pole was pitching a shutout entering the 7 th, but the Angels bats came alive. Ron Jackson hit a solo homer to kick off the 7th, followed a few at bats later by a bases-clearing double from the bat of PH Joe Rudi, and the Angels took a 5-4 lead. Tom Griffin and Dave LaRoche held the M's scoreless in the 8th and 9th, as LaRoche picked up save number 3.

Frank Tanana pitched a gem in Game 4, holding the Mariners to 1 run on 8 hits as the Angels soared to a 7-1 victory.