Cano's HR helps M's beat Angels 3-1
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Taijuan Walker continued to command the strike zone and excel with runners in scoring position, which helps explain why the Seattle Mariners' 22-year-old right-hander has reeled off four straight wins.
Walker pitched seven sharp innings Friday night, leading the Mariners to a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Robinson Cano's home run and RBI doubles by Nelson Cruz and Brad Miller.
Walker (6-6) scattered seven hits, struck out six and walked none in his first career start against the Angels, stretching his streak of consecutive innings without allowing a walk to 21 1-3 spanning 87 batters.
Matt Shoemaker (4-6) allowed two runs and seven hits in six-plus innings, working on six day's rest after getting two extra days to improve his fastball command.
The Mariners took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Austin Jackson led off with an infield single and came all the way around on Cruz's one-out line drive over the head of Pujols at first base and into the right field corner.
Mike Zunino advanced the runners with a sacrifice after Fernando Salas came in from the bullpen, but Shoemaker got Jackson to ground into a double play after an intentional walk to Logan Morrison.