Tom Wilhelmsen then closed the game out as the Seattle Mariners held on for a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon to cap a three-game sweep – the Mariners’ first sweep of the Angels since September 26-28 of 2014. Paxton was able to strike out Mike Trout to get the second out, but Albert Pujols would convert with an RBI single to left field to score their only run of the game.
Advertisement
Paxton did earn his fourth win of the 2016 regular season, however, while creating a little bit of history in the process as well.
Trout completed one of the better catches of his career, but struck out four times against the same pitcher for the first time in his career.
Making the feat that much more impressive, Paxton only struck out six opposing batters on Sunday while claiming the former American League MVP as a victim as a result of two-thirds of his punch outs. Leonys Martin would nearly hit a grand slam to break the game wide open, but Trout would rob it in center, resulting in only a sacrifice fly that scored Seager. Against Paxton, who owns a 3.28 ERA in 43 career starts, Trout’s 2-for-20 with 10 strikeouts.
First it was Seth Smith, who took one look at a Matt Shoemaker fastball before flipping it right back up the middle for a base hit.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Trout timed his leap at the center-field wall perfectly, snagging what was destined to be a grand slam off Martin’s bat in the bottom of the fourth inning.
“I saw him out there watching”, Trout said.
“That’s trout”, Angels manager Mike Scoscia said.
Sometimes it’s not all that clear whether the ball was actually going over the wall for a home run.
Regardless – it still panned out well for the Mariners. He also struck out Trout four times, tying the most Trout has struck out in a game. Jefry Marte, who started the season in triple-A, hit cleanup.
Advertisement
However as great as Paxton was on the afternoon he had to be pulled in the ninth after taking an Andrelton Simmons comebacker right on his throwing elbow. That was the longest active streak in the majors. Paxton was on the mound in the top of the ninth inning today. “To pitch the ballgame he did, it was an opportunity for him to try to close it out”. “That’s why I’m really, really hoping that he’s OK”. I said, ‘It’s your day. “I can’t say enough about the job he did”.
