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SEATTLE – The Angels crashed the party.
The Seattle Mariners, who were fighting for their first playoff spot in 20 years, sold all three games this weekend at T-Mobile Park, but the Angels won two of three to extend the Mariners drought.
The Angels won 7-3 on Sunday afternoon, securing home runs from Shohei Ohtani and Jared Walsh, ending a disappointing season with a glimmer of happiness.
The Angels were 77-85, fourth in the American Western League. It was their sixth consecutive losing season.
Even if the Mariners had won on Sunday, they still would have missed the playoffs because the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox both won on Sunday, taking both American League wild cards. The Mariners playoff drought is the longest of major tournaments.
Angels manager Joe Maddon had said all weekend that he wanted his players to soak up the atmosphere of a crowded Seattle stadium and aspire to create something similar in Anaheim next year.
While the Angels played only for pride and the Mariners played for their life in the playoffs, the Angels showed no signs of turning around for the Mariners. Even in the game the Mariners won this weekend, the Angels had an eighth inning lead.
Sunday afternoon, the Angels never lagged behind, taking the advantage on the Ohtani circuit to lead the first set. It was Ohtani’s 46th home run of the season – a stone’s throw from the major league lead – and his 100th RBI.
The Angels extended their lead to 4-0 in the second period. After the Mariners scored a few runs, Walsh restored the lead to 6-2 with his 29th homerun, in the fourth inning. Walsh finished the season with 98 RBIs.
Reid Detmers got the ball for his first major league game since August 21, before being placed on the COVID-related injury list.
Due to free time, Detmers was not fully stretched out as a starter, so he could only throw 60-70 shots, and he only lasted 43. Detmers was charged with two runs in 1 -2/3 sleeves.
The Angels relievers then limited the Mariners to one point for the remainder of the game.
REMARKS
Ahead of the game, the Angels added depth to their field by activating Junior Guerra from the pre-game injured list. He came out with left hamstring strain. They chose southpaw Jhonathan Diaz, who started on Saturday. …
Taylor Ward was placed on the injured list with right adductor strain, which he suffered on Thursday afternoon. The movement enabled the Detmers to be activated. …
Brandon Marsh didn’t start on Sunday because his foot was still sore after awkwardly hitting the first goal on Saturday night, Maddon said. Marsh came on defense in the sixth inning.
More to come on this story.
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