Tyler Smith homers but Mariners fall 9-2 to Angels

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Mariners came up short against the Angels Sunday, losing 9-2 at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Tyler Smith opened the scoring for the Mariners in the top of the second with a two-run home run to left field. Mike Freeman got the rally started with a two-out single to center field before stealing second base and scoring on Smith’s first homer of the spring. Smith went 2 for 3 with a run scored, a double, a home run and two RBIs.

The Angels responded with four runs on four hits, including two doubles, and two walks in the bottom of the second to take a 4-2 lead. Los Angeles tacked on three runs in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run and back-to-back two-out doubles, stretching their lead to 7-2. The Angels scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, taking a 9-2 advantage over the Mariners.

Making his fourth appearance of the spring and his third start, Ariel Miranda allowed four runs on four hits over 1.2 innings pitched while striking out one and walking two. He faced the minimum three batters in the bottom of the first but quickly ran into trouble in the following inning. Miranda yielded a leadoff double to begin the second, followed by a single, a walk and another double as the Angels plated four runs in the inning.

Jean Machi came on in relief of Miranda in the bottom of the second, retired the only batter he faced. In his fifth Cactus League appearance, Casey Fien pitched the third inning, allowing a leadoff walk followed by a two-run home run. After getting a double play, Fien allowed back-to-back doubles to score another run.

Max Povse retired each of the nine batters he faced over three scoreless innings, including three of the last four via strikeout. Povse has yet to allow a hit in six innings pitched over three appearances this spring. In his second outing of the spring, Rob Whalen allowed two runs (one earned run) on a double, a single and an error. Jonathan Aro allowed a two-out double in the eighth inning but stranded the runner there.

The Mariners (10-6) return to Cactus League play to face the Milwaukee Brewers tomorrow (March 13) at 1:05 p.m. at Maryvale Baseball Park. The game will be broadcast (delayed) in the Seattle area on 710 ESPN Seattle. Right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma is slated to make his third Cactus League start for the Mariners against Brewers right-hander Junior Guerra.