Wed Jun 4 19:41:44 2008

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Angels edge Mariners to complete sweep

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Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Torii Hunter knocked in two runs, as the LA Angels of Anaheim clipped the Seattle Mariners, 5-4, to complete a three-game sweep at Safeco Field.

LA starter Jered Weaver (5-6) gave up four runs and 10 hits in six innings of work. Francisco Rodriguez tossed a perfect ninth to notch his 24th save of the season.

Maicer Izturis, Howie Kendrick and Gary Matthews Jr. each had two hits, with Kendrick driving in a run for the Angels, winners of a season-best five straight. Mike Napoli and Brandon Wood each also had an RBI.

Carlos Silva (3-6) allowed five runs on eight hits in eight innings for the Mariners, who have dropped four in a row. A free-agent acquisition in the offseason, Silva has lost six straight decisions.

Jose Lopez hit a solo home run and finished with three RBI for Seattle, which concluded its nine-game homestand with a mark of 3-6. Lopez homered in each game of the series.

Ichiro Suzuki, Jeremy Reed and Raul Ibanez all had two hits.

The Angels jumped on Silva for three runs in the top of the first. Reggie Willits drew a leadoff walk and Izturis singled to left. A double by Kendrick put the visitors on the board. After Garret Anderson popped out to third, Hunter stroked a two-run single to left.

Seattle got a run back in the home half when Lopez tattooed a 2-1 fastball into the Angels bullpen. The Mariners manufactured another run in the second. Reed singled to start the inning, moved to second on a Richie Sexson groundout, advanced to third when Kenji Johjima's soft liner dropped in a for a hit and scored when Yuniesky Betancourt hit a slow roller to the second baseman.

In the bottom of the third, the Mariners got their first two men on but couldn't move them, and Los Angeles responded with a two-spot in the next frame. Hunter worked a walk to open the inning and a perfectly executed hit- and-run with Matthews at the plate put runners on the corners. Napoli followed with a sacrifice fly, with Matthews heading to second on the throw home. Wood then reached out and poked a single into the right-center field gap to give the Angels a 5-2 lead.

The Mariners narrowed the deficit to one in the home fourth. Sexson led off with a single and hustled to third when Suzuki hit a grounder back up the middle with two gone in the frame. Suzuki then stole second before Lopez smacked a two-run single to left.

Seattle had a rally snuffed out in the sixth. Betancourt kept the frame alive with a single and tried to score all the way from first on a Suzuki's line drive to left field, but the Mariners shortstop was tagged out at home.

Game Notes

The Angels recorded their first sweep of the year...Lopez's home run was his fifth of the season...Seattle left seven men on base, while the Angels stranded five.