Erick Aybar hits 3-run homer to lead Angels to win over Mariners

SEATTLE — Erick Aybar hit a three-run homer, Matt Shoemaker pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 7-5 on Thursday night.

Recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday, Shoemaker (3-1) set down the side in order four times in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs on four hits, equaled a career-high six strikeouts and did not walk a batter for the first time in five career starts.

After Kyle Seager hit a two-run home run in the ninth, Ernesto Frieri came on to record two outs for his eighth save in 10 chances.

Aybar’s fourth-inning home run broke open a 2-0 game that Mariners starter Brandon Maurer had labored to keep close.

Maurer (1-4) lasted just four innings, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks. It’s the fifth time in seven starts this season that Maurer has failed to reach the fifth inning.

James Jones dropped a double in front of a diving Mike Trout in center field to lead off the fourth for Seattle’s first hit. One out later, Michael Saunders lined a two-run home run to right, cutting the deficit to 5-2.

Saunders drove in the Mariners’ third run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly to the wall in left field.

Los Angeles took a quick lead in the first when Trout’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Kole Calhoun. Trout drove in another run in the sixth with a sharp single up the middle, but the Angels, leading 6-2, were unable to blow the game open, as Seattle reliever Dominic Leone got two quick outs.

Aybar, Trout and C.J. Cron each had three hits for the Angels, who had 14 overall – the fourth time in a week the club has had at least 11 hits in a game.

Cano sits out

Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano didn’t feel well Thursday and was a late scratch. Stefen Romero replaced Cano in the lineup at designated hitter and Nick Franklin moved to second base.