Weaver, Angels beat Mariners

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Jered Weaver joined Whitey Ford as the only rookies in A.L. history to win their first nine decisions, holding Seattle to three singles over seven innings in the Los Angeles Angels’ 3-0 victory over the slumping Mariners on Friday night.

A lanky 6-foot-7, 205-pounder with a deceptive delivery, good command and a mix of speeds to keep hitters off balance, Weaver became just the fifth pitcher in major league history to begin his career 9-0 as a starter.

Keeping most of his pitches low and clipping the corners, Weaver struck out seven and issued just one walk to help deal the Mariners their ninth consecutive loss and tie Ford’s record set with the New York Yankees in 1950. Livan Hernandez won nine for Florida before losing in 1997.

Vladimir Guerrero put the Angels in front with a broken-bat RBI single in the first inning and Mike Napoli added his 13th homer, a two-run shot in the fourth off Felix Hernandez (10-11).

Scot Shields and Francisco Rodriguez combined to finish the four-hitter for the Angels, with Rodriguez working the ninth for his 33rd save in 36 chances.

The 23-year-old Weaver won his first seven starts, including a 7-1 victory over Hernandez and the Mariners on July 3, then had three consecutive no-decisions before he beat the Yankees on Sunday. Only Wiltse had a better record than Weaver through 12 major league starts.

Hernandez gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings, with six strikeouts and one walk.

Seattle manager Mike Hargrove said before the game that he was giving Ichiro Suzuki the night off, which would have ended his streak of 360 consecutive games. But Hargrove changed his mind and used Suzuki to pinch hit in the eighth. He grounded out and remained in the game in right field.

The Mariners’ loss was their 18th in a row to A.L. West opponents, a league record. Detroit lost 17 straight from 1996-97. Seattle’s last win over a division rival was a 6-2 victory over the Angels on June 11.