Mariners want to go on the offensive in the series finale against the Angels

The Seattle Mariners have cooled off over the last two games after a strong start in the opener of their series against the Los Angeles Angels.

They will look to get back on track and salvage a tie in the series when the American League West rivals face off for one final meeting on Sunday in Anaheim, California.

The Mariners have lost their last two games after an 11-0 win on Thursday in the first game of the four-game series. In Friday’s 6-5 overtime loss, they scored four runs in the first three innings but were able to get safely across the plate only twice in the next 16 innings.

In Saturday’s 2-1 loss, Seattle managed 1 of 8 hits with runners in scoring position.

“They were hit by runners in scoring position,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “RBIs with two outs are huge in this game, and we had them in a tight spot and couldn’t put them away.”

A win in Sunday’s finale would help Seattle maintain its precarious first place in the AL West, a position the Mariners have held for over 60 days. They are one game ahead of the second-place Houston Astros, who they will face later next week after the break.

Victor Robles went 3-for-4 for Seattle on Saturday and has had a solid start to July so far. The outfielder is 5-for-10 with a .545 on-base percentage and a 1.000 slugging percentage in five games this month.

The Mariners turn the ball over to right-hander Logan Gilbert (6-5, 2.94 ERA) for the final out. Gilbert is 4-2 with a 4.57 ERA in eight career starts against the Angels. He has 51 strikeouts against Los Angeles in his career, his third-most against a single opponent.

A win on Sunday would be the Angels’ third straight victory and first series win since winning three of four games against the Detroit Tigers two weeks ago. Los Angeles has won three of its last four games after losing eight of its previous nine.

“Pitching, defense, hitting on time,” said Angels manager Ron Washington. “That’s it.”

Los Angeles received a quality performance from starting pitcher Jose Soriano on Saturday and now hopes that right-hander Carson Fulmer (0-2, 3.83 ERA) can get off to a good start and end the series in what could be a bullpen game.

Fulmer has faced Seattle three times in his career (once starting). In those games, he has a 1-0 record with a 4.32 ERA, allowing four runs, including two home runs, and striking out six runs in 8 1/3 innings.

Reliever Ben Joyce threw 13 strikes on 18 pitches in the seventh inning on Saturday, striking out the Mariners’ top three hitters with the tying point in scoring position. The 23-year-old, who has thrown 14 1/3 consecutive hitless innings, has added the sinker and changeup to his repertoire.

“I think it’s another one of those things where I get more comfortable the more I throw it,” Joyce said. “Even the few times I’ve thrown it now, it feels great. I feel comfortable with it, so I think I could definitely throw it more often.”

–Field level media