M’s paltry for Pauley

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Fewer than three months spent with the Seattle Mariners has still been ample time for David Pauley to figure out they can’t score runs.

They especially can’t score with Pauley on the mound, managing just one marker for him in Friday’s 4-3 loss in 14 innings to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. That was still an improvement over Pauley’s previous three outings, when the M’s didn’t score a single run with the journeyman pitcher – called up from Triple-A in late June – on the hill.

Seattle didn’t get the offense going until the top of the ninth, scoring twice off closer Fernando Rodney to tie the score 3-3. Pauley was already done by then, and was looking on from the dugout as the Angels won it on a Bobby Abreu home run in the bottom of the 14th off Brian Sweeney.

The Mariners needed a scintillating double play in the 10th just to make it as far as they did. With two on and one out, Chone Figgins went deep behind second base for a Mike Napoli grounder, backhanded a perfect flip to shortstop Josh Wilson, who stepped on the bag then threw to first to complete the play.

Pauley went a season-high 6 2/3 innings in taking the no-decision, giving up just the three runs in his longest outing in the majors since 2006. He’s positioning himself for next season, trying to get an invite to spring training.

But the Mariners just couldn’t get anything done against Angels ace Jered Weaver, who moved ahead of Felix Hernandez for the American League strikeout lead by fanning six in this one. Weaver now has 211 strikeouts to 209 for Hernandez, who pitches for the Mariners tonight.

A crowd of 42,203 at Angel Stadium booed mightily in the ninth when the inconsistent Rodney allowed a one-out single to Franklin Gutierrez, then back-to-back doubles by Jose Lopez and Casey Kotchman that tied the score. But with pinch-runner Matt Tuiasosopo on second with one out, Adam Moore grounded out and Michael Saunders went down swinging.

The Angels opened the scoring in the fourth, with Hideki Matsui leading off with a single and advancing to second on a wild pitch.

Pauley then hit Napoli with a pitch to put two on, and the runners were bunted ahead one base. Howie Kendrick hit a sacrifice fly to score a run, and Napoli came home to make it 2-0 on a single by Jeff Mathis.

The Mariners finally broke through in the fifth when Kotchman singled, then took third base on a single to right by Saunders. Kotchman then scored when the throw back in from right fielder Torii Hunter bounced away for an error.

It was the first run scored in 21 2/3 innings by the Mariners with Pauley still in a game, dating back to Aug. 18 in Baltimore.