Mariners at Angels
The Seattle Mariners can seemingly do no wrong away from home, and their ability to flex their muscles on the road has fueled their early rise atop the American League West. The Mariners attempt to remain undefeated against the Los Angeles Angels this season and set their sights on a four-game road sweep when the division rivals conclude their series Sunday.
Seattle traveled to Los Angeles coming off a winless six-game homestand and immediately recaptured the form that led to its 13-2 start, hitting at least three homers in each of its first three contests of this series. The Mariners belted four home runs for the second straight game in Saturday's 6-5 victory, improving to 5-0 against the Angels while moving to 11-1 on the road and increasing their major-league leading home run total to 53 - 34 of which have come outside of Seattle. The early part of the Mariners' season has run almost in direct contrast of the Angels, who answered a 1-6 start by winning seven of eight before dropping each of their last six. Seattle's home run barrage overshadowed a historic night for Albert Pujols, who drove in a pair of runs to pass Babe Ruth for sole possession of fifth place on the all-time RBI list with 1,993.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Mike Leake (2-1, 3.86 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jaime Barria (1-1, 5.87)
Leake rebounded from his worst start of the season with his third quality start in four tries, but took the loss Tuesday against Cleveland despite yielding only two runs over six innings. The former No. 8 overall pick has been stung by the long ball in his two road turns, giving up all five homers he's allowed this season away from Seattle. Mike Trout (9-for-18, homer, four walks) is among several Angels who have roughed up Leake, who is 4-3 with a 3.57 ERA in seven career starts against Los Angeles.
Barria's time in the rotation could be brief with Tyler Skaggs expected to return soon, and his first start of the season Tuesday did little to help his cause. The 22-year-old Panamanian took the loss in that outing against Texas, permitting four runs on six hits and two walks in five frames. Mitch Haniger (4-for-11, two homers) and Daniel Vogelbach (1-for-2, home run) have each thrived versus Barria, who went 1-3 with a 4.10 ERA while making five of his 17 starts as a rookie last year against Seattle.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mariners' 53 home runs are tied with the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals for the most in major-league history through 24 games.
2. Pujols needs two RBIs to tie Lou Gehrig (1,995) and three to match Barry Bonds (1,996) on the all-time list.
3. Seattle 2B Dee Gordon two-run single in the fourth inning Saturday gave him 1,000 hits for his career.