Jered Weaver gives up three runs early in Angels’ 4-3 loss to Seattle
SEATTLE — KEY MOMENT: Within a span of 10 pitches in the second inning, Angels ace Jered Weaver gave up a solo homer to Kendrys Morales, a single to Logan Morrison and a two-run homer to Michael Saunders. Dustin Ackley’s fifth-inning homer made it 4-0 Seattle. It was the career-high 27th homer allowed by Weaver in a season, topping the 26 homers he allowed in 2009.
AT THE PLATE: Kole Calhoun (17th) and Mike Trout (36th) hit back-to-back homers off starter Hisashi Iwakuma in the sixth. The Angels cut the deficit to 4-3 in the ninth when Howie Kendrick reached on an infield single, pinch-runner Shawn O’Malley stole second and Erick Aybar hit an RBI double off closer Fernando Rodney. But Rodney got David Freese to fly to right and Brennan Boesch to ground to short for his 48th save.
ON THE MOUND: Angels left-hander Joe Thatcher, who missed most of August and September because of a left-ankle sprain, enhanced his chances of making the playoff roster by retiring left-handed-hitting Ackley, Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager in the seventh. “That’s the best outing he’s had for us all year,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “That’s good to see.” Iwakuma rebounded from a rocky four-start stretch in which he went 1-3 with a 9.35 earned-run average, allowing two runs and four hits in 61/3 innings.
IN THE FIELD: Trout raced back for Morales’ eighth-inning line drive to deep center field and made a leaping, twisting catch of the ball behind his head. “It looked like a video game,” Scioscia said. “That ball was coming back like a boomerang, and he tracked it and made an unbelievable catch.”
REHAB REPORT: Josh Hamilton — who has missed all but one game since Sept. 5 because of injuries to his right shoulder, chest and rib-cage — threw, ran and did defensive work Friday and is scheduled to resume hitting Saturday. The left fielder said he has “no doubt” he will play in the division series, but Manager Mike Scioscia said Hamilton will first need to “see some velocity,” whether it is in a simulated-game environment or an Arizona instructional league game.
QUOTABLE: “It was unreal. If someone wrote a script and sent it to a Hollywood producer, they would say this is too unbelievable.” — Calhoun on New York Yankees icon Derek Jeter hitting a ninth-inning walk-off single in his final at-bat and game in Yankee Stadium on Thursday night.
UP NEXT: Left-hander C.J. Wilson (13-10, 4.61 ERA) will oppose Seattle left-hander James Paxton (6-4, 3.03 ERA) at Safeco Field on Saturday at 6 p.m. On the air: TV: FS West. Radio: 830 AM.
More to Read
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.