Aces Galore Featured In Middle Game Of Angels-Mariners Divisional Matchup

The Los Angeles Angels dropped its opener against the Seattle Mariners 6-2 despite taking a 2-0 lead by the third inning.

The Angels allowed six unanswered runs following an RBI single from third baseman Denzer Guzman in the first inning and a solo home run off the bat of shortstop Zach Neto, both of whom are swinging hot bats right now.

Seattle got to the Angels’ rookie right-hander Ryan Johnson, who surrendered one earned run on four hits while striking out three. He allowed two unearned runs in the fourth after Guzman had a critical error with two outs, allowing struggling catcher Cal Raleigh to come through with a two-run single.

Mariners righty George Kirby was excellent, going eight innings and allowing just the two runs on seven hits and one walk while fanning seven. He was extremely efficient, as 70 of his 100 pitches went for strikes.

The Angels are still well within the division race and wild card race because of how weak the American League is this year, even with the team boasting a 36-50 record.

Los Angeles has been playing solid baseball recently and if it can win another divisional matchup like it did against the Athletics, the team is in business. The Halos are 7.5 games back from the first-place Texas Rangers and seven games back from the final wild card spot entering play Tuesday.

Tuesday’s game will feature a pitching matchup between two ace right-handers: Los Angeles’ Jose Soriano and Seattle’s Bryan Woo.

Soriano hasn’t been nearly as effective as he was to begin the season, but his overall numbers still look good. He is 8-4 with a 3.32 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 102 strikeouts to 48 walks through 17 starts (95 innings).

The 27-year-old has been hit hard over the last six weeks, including his last outing against the Baltimore Orioles. He pitched just three innings and allowed five runs on six hits and two walks while punching out four in a no-decision effort.

Woo is 6-6 with a 4.26 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 92 strikeouts to 18 walks through 16 starts (93 innings). He has been a bit inconsistent, as two of his last five starts were scoreless while he allowed five or more in the other three starts, including his last one.

Woo last worked against the Pittsburgh Pirates and was shelled over four innings, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while fanning four in an 11-1 loss.

First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. PDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.