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Seattle Mariners

Mariners fall to Angels on Kole Calhoun’s 10th-inning home run

Seattle’s Dee Gordon, left, is tagged by Los Angeles Angels catcher Jose Briceno while trying to steal home during the 10th inning Friday in Anaheim, Calif. Gordon was originally called safe, but the Angels challenged, and the call was overturned. The Angels won 4-3 in 10 innings. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
By Ryan Divish Seattle Times

ANAHEIM, Calif. – It was a risky play made by a desperate team that was aware of its failures over the past month.

And it failed.

Dee Gordon’s delayed attempt to steal home on Jean Segura’s steal of second base in the top of the 10th inning was at first successful, then overturned by replay, and torpedoed the Mariners’ best chance to take a lead Friday night.

There would be no more chances after that. Kole Calhoun hit the first pitch of the 10th – a gutted fastball from Juan Nicasio – over the wall in right-center for a walkoff solo homer and a 4-3 victory for the Angels.

Perhaps the only positive aspect of the night for the Mariners? They still lead in the race for the second wild card, because the A’s lost in Denver.

The Mariners had a chance to break the 3-all tie in the top of the ninth, but the beaten-down body of 38-year-old Albert Pujols mustered up a moment from his younger days. With runners on first and second and one out, Pujols made a diving stop on Chris Herrmann’s hard ground ball just past the first-base bag, hustled to his feet and got to first for an out. It saved one run, if not more.

Seattle starter Wade LeBlanc didn’t seem comfortable in the second inning of his outing, giving up a leadoff double to Pujols. A one-out walk to Ian Kinsler and bloop single to Jose Briceno loaded the bases.

The Angels unloaded them quickly. Calhoun jumped on a first-pitch fastball, bouncing a double over the wall in right field to score a pair of runs. David Fletcher followed a sac fly to deep center field, making it 3-0.

But that was all LeBlanc would allow. Despite not having anything near pinpoint command, he still gave the Mariners six innings, allowing the three runs on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

Seattle got a run back in the fifth against Angels starter Andrew Heaney. Mike Zunino took full advantage of the fences at Angels Stadium, lifting a high fly ball to right field that stayed just inside the foul pole where the stands curl to 350 feet. Right fielder Calhoun made a leaping attempt at the ball, but came up just short.

The Mariners trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the seventh when Nelson Cruz smashed a solo homer to deep right-center. It was Cruz’s 23rd homer of the season.

For a moment, it looked as though the Mariners might have tied the game one pitch later. Kyle Seager sent a deep fly ball to center field. But it wasn’t quite deep enough; center fielder Mike Trout made a brilliant leaping grab at the wall.

Seattle got that run in the top of the eighth. Zunino led off the inning with a double and later advanced to third on Ben Gamel’s ground out to second base. With the infield playing in with the runner at third, Guillermo Heredia looped a soft blooper to shallow right field that landed in the grass for an RBI single.