All-Star Ty France hit a two-run homer and rookie George Kirby pitched six strong innings as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Los Angeles Angels 2-1 Saturday afternoon in the opening game of a doubleheader.
The Mariners evened the four-game series at one apiece after Los Angeles won 4-3 in 10 innings Friday night. It was just Seattle's second victory in seven home games against the Angels this season.
Kirby (3-3) allowed one run on six hits. The right-hander didn't walk a batter and struck out eight, one shy of his season best. Erik Swanson worked the ninth for his third save, a career high.
Trailing 1-0, the Mariners scored all the runs they'd need in the third inning.
Cal Raleigh led off with a walk before being erased on Jarred Kelenic's grounder to short. Kelenic stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch by right-hander Jaime Barria (1-2). France then hit a 1-0 pitch into the Mariners' bullpen in left-center field to make it 2-1.
Barria allowed two runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings, with four walks and three strikeouts.
The Angels opened the scoring in the second inning.
Jo Adell led off with a ground-rule double to right-center field. An out later, Kurt Suzuki hit a bloop single to center, sending Adell to third. Mickey Moniak, a former No. 1 overall draft pick acquired at the trade deadline from Philadelphia, grounded a sharp single into right field to plate Adell.
The Mariners loaded the bases in the fifth but were unable to score. A single by Kelenic and two-out walks to France and Jesse Winker ended Barria's afternoon. Reliever Mike Mayers got Carlos Santana to foul out to third baseman Jose Rojas to end the threat.
Matt Festa replaced Kirby in the seventh and got the first two outs of the inning before Andres Munoz came on to strike out Shohei Ohtani on three consecutive pitches with a runner on.
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