Woo, mariners stifle angels in 10-inning gem
Angel Stadium fell silent Friday night, not from disappointment, but from a prolonged state of near disbelief. The Seattle Mariners, after nine innings of frustratingly sterile baseball, erupted for three runs in the 10th, capped by Cole Young’s go-ahead RBI triple, to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1. Bryan Woo and the Mariners’ bullpen authored a masterful performance, blanking the Angels for nine-and-a-third innings on a blustery California evening.
A pitching duel that extended beyond nine
The game, the Angels’ home opener, was a study in controlled pitching. Reid Detmers, for Los Angeles, delivered a solid 6 2/3 innings, surrendering just three hits and four walks. But the real story was Bryan Woo, who matched his longest scoreless start with seven brilliant innings, fanning six Angels batters and retiring his last twelve. He navigated a first-inning scare after hitting Mike Trout with a pitch, but quickly regained command, showcasing the poise of a seasoned veteran.
The offensive drought was palpable. Both teams struggled to manufacture runs, with the Angels failing to get a runner into scoring position. Seattle, meanwhile, squandered back-to-back singles in the fourth, a fleeting glimpse of the offensive potential that would ultimately surface later.
Young’s triple breaks the ice
The tension finally snapped in the 10th. With Luke Raley aboard as the automatic runner, Cole Young, facing Brent Suter, launched a triple into the right-field corner, scoring Raley and giving the Mariners a 1-0 lead. Josh Naylor then tacked on two insurance runs with a single, pushing the lead to 3-0.
Andrés Muñoz, making his first appearance in six days, pitched a scoreless ninth, setting the stage for Gabe Speier, who secured his second career save despite allowing a sacrifice fly to Jorge Soler, scoring Trout and making the final score 3-1. The Angels were retired in order over their last 21 batters, a testament to the Mariners’ relentless defense and superb pitching.
Oswald Peraza’s third-inning popup that landed just inside the right-field line remains the Angels' sole hit of the night. Trout's walk in the fourth provided the only other baserunner.
Emerson Hancock, fresh off a six-hitless-inning debut last week, will take the mound for Seattle Saturday against Jack Kochanowicz, who endured a rough four-inning outing in Houston during his season debut. The Mariners’ early season momentum appears unshakeable, a stark contrast to the Angels’ struggles to find consistency.