Seattle @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 29, 2010 ) Seattle 1, LA Angels 5
It might have been the most costly grand slam in major league history.
Kendry Morales ended Saturday’s game in the 10th inning with a grand slam that gave the Los Angeles Angels a 5-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners. But in an amazing twist of fate, Morales broke his left leg as he landed awkwardly after jumping on home plate celebrating with his teammates.
Morales will undergo surgery today and could be done for the season. With Morales gone, so too could the chances of the Angels (24-27) getting back into the American League West race.
Not only does Morales lead the Angels in home runs (11), but he also tops them in batting average (.290) and RBIs (39).
The 26-year-old first baseman was in obvious pain as he quickly rolled on his back. He stayed on the ground for 10 minutes before being carted off the field and taken to a hospital. The Angels placed him on the 15-day disabled, but he will obviously be out much longer.
The freak injury also will change the way the Angels celebrate at home plate, according to many Angels and manager Mike Scioscia, who must be wondering what it will take to catch, well, a break.
Los Angeles will try to stay focused this afternoon in the finale of the three-game series.
The Angels start left-hander Joe Saunders (3-6, 4.40 ERA) against Seattle right-hander Ian Snell (0-3, 4.32).
Saunders is 7-1 with a 3.06 ERA in 11 career starts against Seattle and has beaten the Mariners six consecutive times - most recently on May 8 when he allowed three runs and five walks in 5 2/3 innings in a 4-3, 10-inning victory.
Snell makes his second start after spending time in the bullpen when Cliff Lee was activated. He is 0-2 with a 7.15 ERA against the Angels.
While the Angels lost their best offensive player, the Mariners’ bats were silenced by Jered Weaver and relievers Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes. Weaver limited the Mariners to three hits and one unearned run in seven innings. Rodriguez allowed one hit and Fuentes threw a perfect inning.
The Mariners managed just four singles fell to 0-6 in extra-inning games – the only team in the majors still without a victory in extra frames.
The Angels also had an injury earlier in the game when center fielder Torii Hunter suffered a bruised left hand after he was hit by a fastball from Felix Hernandez in the first inning. Hunter will miss today’s game, according to Scioscia.