Angels rally to beat Mariners, win fourth straight

[AngelsWin.com]

• Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout heads home to score on an error by the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Jefry Marte, right, connects for a home run as Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino, center, and umpire Jeff Kellogg look on in the second inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco throws against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

• Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons throws from a knee as fans look on on a double by Seattle Mariners’ Nelson Cruz in the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco looks down as Seattle Mariners’ Mike Zunino rounds the bases with a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

• Seattle Mariners’ Mike Zunino, right, is congratulated by Jarrod Dyson on his two-run home run as Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado looks on in the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco in action against the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

• Seattle Mariners’ Robinson Cano raises his arms as he comes up from sliding safely at home as Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco watches at rear, during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols singles in a pair of runs against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Andrelton Simmons doubles in a run against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

• Los Angeles Angels’ C.J. Cron hits a grounder that resulted in a run on an error by the Seattle Mariners on the play during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

• Seattle Mariners’ Leonys Martin swings and misses to strike out and end the baseball game, in front of Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado on Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Seattle. The Angels won 6-5. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

• Los Angeles Angels closing pitcher Yusmeiro Petit (36) and catcher Martin Maldonado share congratulations after the Angels defeated the Seattle Mariners 6-5 in a baseball game Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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SEATTLE — As Mike Scioscia always preaches, if the Angels are going to get where they want to go, they need to be more than Mike Trout.

On Friday night, the Seattle Mariners walked Trout three times, and the players behind him made them pay, sparking a come-from-behind, 6-5 victory.

Three hitters immediately behind Trout combined for six hits: three for Albert Pujols, one for C.J. Cron and two for Andrelton Simmons. They drove in four of the runs.

“We have to take advantage of when Mike gets on,” Scioscia said. “Mike’s on-base percentage is off the charts. We want the guys behind him swinging the bat.”

Trout scored the go-ahead run in the ninth after a walk. Pujols singled and Cron hit a bouncer that shortstop Jean Segura booted, allowing the run to score.

Because good guys need a break every once in a while. pic.twitter.com/aDJSSE0Ele

— Angels (@Angels) August 12, 2017

The Angels have won four in a row and 10 of 14. They are now 59-58, just a half-game behind the Minnesota Twins for the second American League wild card berth. They are tied with the Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays.

Their latest victory was the product of a rally from a 5-1 deficit in the seventh. It was the seventh time this season that the Angels have won a game after trailing by at least four runs, the most in the majors.

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“That’s what we do,” Simmons said. “Especially late in the game, we never give in. We make the pitchers earn their outs. We put up good at-bats. We had the bases loaded, got a couple hits. and came back. The game is never really over for us. We’ve done it enough times, we know it, the opposition knows it. We’ll try to keep doing it.”

With two outs in the seventh, the Angels had just a runner at first. Cameron Maybin’s two-out chopper would have ended the inning, but it was bobbled by Robinson Cano, and ruled an infield hit. Andrew Moore then pitched around Trout, walking him on four pitches, to load the bases.

Pujols followed with a two-strike single into center field, driving in two. His second of three hits helped reverse the trajectory of a couple months that have seen his numbers sink well below their customary levels.

“Sometimes you go through a little funk and you don’t want to throw in the towel,” Pujols said. “You just continue to fight. The last thing I want to think is how much I’m struggling and not doing my job. If you go oh-fer, you flip the page and then you get an opportunity out there and try to separate every at-bat. That’s what I’ve been doing my whole career and I’ve been successful at it.”

After Pujols cut the lead to 5-3, Cron singled into left to make it 5-4. Finally, Simmons pulled a double into left, with Pujols chugging around third to score the tying run.

Don’t call it a comeback