SEATTLE — C.J. Cron homered in the eighth inning and hit a two-run bloop single with the bases loaded in the ninth to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 7-6 comeback win against the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.
The Angels snapped a six-game losing streak despite being down four runs after six innings and trailing 6-3 going into the eighth.
Ketel Marte hit a three-run triple and Nelson Cruz and Chris Iannetta each hit solo home runs for the Mariners, who ended a three-game winning streak.
Cron’s solo homer was his third of the year, and Jefry Marte added a run-scoring double in the eighth to cut Seattle’s lead to one.
The Angels loaded the bases with one out against Seattle closer Steve Cishek (2-2) in the ninth, and Cron’s short fly dropped in behind shortstop to score two runs.
Joe Smith (1-2) got out of a bases-loaded jam to pitch a scoreless eighth and earn the win, and Fernando Salas came on in the ninth for his first save.
Seattle starter Nathan Karns gave up three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He cruised early, then gave up two runs and three hits in the seventh inning, the start of Los Angeles’ comeback.
Los Angeles starter Nick Tropeano got into several jams, but the Mariners offense had trouble scoring early. Seattle loaded the bases in the second and fourth innings but came away with only one run to show for it — on Leonys Martin’s sacrifice fly.
Tropeano pitched five innings, allowing two runs on five hits.
Cruz gave the Mariners a 2-1 lead in the fifth with his seventh homer. In the sixth, Seattle again loaded the bases and this time, Marte tripled to the right-center gap — past diving right fielder Kole Calhoun — to clear the bases.
Karns gave up one run and three hits in the first six innings, but gave up singles to three of the first four batters in the seventh and left with the bases loaded and one out. Calhoun drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, then Trout’s run-scoring double cut the Seattle lead to 5-3.
Iannetta’s homer in the seventh was his fourth home run of the season and second in two games — Iannetta hit a game-ending home run in the 11th inning of the Mariners’ 6-5 win against Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
Training room
Three Mariners relievers on the disabled list will test their arms Saturday. RHP Joaquin Benoit (right shoulder inflammation) and LHP Charlie Furbush (biceps tendinitis) will throw simulated games. RHP Tony Zych, who went on the DL on May 2 with right shoulder tendinitis, will have a light throwing session.
UP NEXT
Mariners: RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (1-4, 4.19 ERA) starts against the Angels in the second game of the series Saturday night. Iwakuma pitched eight innings at Los Angeles on April 22, allowing two runs, but ended up with a no-decision as the Mariners won 5-2 in 10 innings.
Angels: RHP Jhoulys Chacin is making his first start for the Angels after being traded from the Braves on Wednesday. He was 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA with Atlanta this season.
