Felix denied 19th victory, and Mariners lose 3-2 to Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Mike Trout stole more than a three-run homer for Jesus Montero when he reached high above the center field fence.
Felix Hernandez would have had a four-run lead and a strong shot at his 19th victory. The Seattle Mariners would have been in position for a skid-snapping win.
Trout took it all away with breathtaking grace - and King Felix couldn't even be mad about it.
David Freese homered in the ninth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels beat Seattle 3-2 on Saturday night for their fourth straight victory.
Hernandez needed victories in his final two starts to win 20 games for the first time in his career, admittedly a consolation prize in another disappointing season. He stranded three Angels in each of the first two innings, and he nearly got a commanding lead off the bat of Montero in the fourth until Trout took it away.
"We should have won this game, but Mike Trout made an unbelievable catch," Hernandez said. "When I saw Trout running back, I thought he might have a chance."
Rookie Ketel Marte hit his first major league homer for the Mariners, who have lost four straight.
Hernandez yielded eight hits and two runs, but left a tied game after giving up C.J. Cron's tying homer in the sixth.
"It's disappointing, because I want to get to 20 every year," Hernandez said. "But what are you going to do? Just work hard and be ready for next season. But I'm not done yet."
Pinch-runner Brad Miller got to third in the ninth inning with the go-ahead run moments after the Angels lost closer Huston Street to an apparent groin injury. But Jose Alvarez and Fernando Salas (4-2) each got one out with gutsy performances in place of Street.
Freese led off the ninth with his third career walk-off homer in a regular-season game, connecting off Danny Farquhar (1-5). The 2011 World Series MVP - who ended Game 6 that year with an extra-innings homer - set off a wild celebration for the Angels (80-74), who stayed a half-game behind Houston (81-74) for the second wild-card spot.
"To be able to play with guys like Albert (Pujols) and Mike (Trout), it's a privilege," Freese said. "We're all just trying to contribute and keep us going."
Los Angeles also moved four games back of Texas (84-70) in the AL West race. The Angels and Rangers finish the season with a four-game series in Arlington.
Trout made his jaw-dropping snare in the fourth inning, robbing Montero of what appeared to be a certain three-run homer. The AL MVP's athleticism elicited gasps, screams and two standing ovations from the Angel Stadium crowd, which happened to include his visiting parents.
"I 100 percent knew it was going out," said rookie left-hander Andrew Heaney, who gave up Montero's fly. "I was in disbelief. I didn't know what to do. It was crazy. You know you're playing with the best player in the game."
"I thought it was pretty cool," Trout said. "Honestly, I didn't think I could catch it, and then once I got up to the wall and then I looked back up at it, I said, 'Man, I've got a chance to catch this ball.'"
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners: Vidal Nuno will start on three days' rest Tuesday against Houston, filling in for James Paxton, who has a torn fingernail.
Angels: Manager Mike Scioscia hasn't decided whether Tuesday's starter will be Nick Tropeano or Matt Shoemaker, who has a stiff forearm.
UP NEXT
Mariners: Hisashi Iwakuma (9-4, 3.67 ERA) is 7-2 in his last 10 starts.
Angels: Jered Weaver (7-12, 4.86 ERA) makes the final regular-season home start of his worst big league season.