Coming off their second 12-run game in four days, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will try to give starter C.J. Wilson a little run support on Wednesday evening in the finale of a quick two-game series with the Seattle Mariners.
The Angels have won three straight to match their longest winning streak of the season. They began their streak with a 12-9 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday and opened their set with the Mariners last night by recording a 12-0 rout.
Mike Trout keyed the showcase by becoming youngest player in American League history to hit for the cycle. He drove in five runs in all, hitting an RBI triple in the fourth, a three-run double in the sixth and a solo homer in the eighth inning.
"It feels great. I didn't think about it until about the eighth inning. It was a 2-0 count, and in the back of my mind I knew I had to barrel it up," Trout said. "As soon as I hit it I knew it had a chance. I can't explain the feeling right now.
Trout became the third player 21 years old or younger to hit for the cycle since 1930, joining Arky Vaughn (1933, 21) and Cesar Cedeno (1972, 21).
Josh Hamilton, who turned 32 on Tuesday, and Howie Kendrick added two-run homers, while Albert Pujols also drove in a pair of runs.
Lost in the offensive explosion was eight scoreless frames from starter Jerome Williams, who scattered six hits and struck out six in the win.
"I was able to keep the ball down and attack the zone tonight," Williams said.
Aaron Harang gave up seven runs on nine hits over just 3 2/3 innings to absorb the loss, Seattle's fifth straight that dropped them to 2-6 on a nine-game road trip.
"Aaron made too many mistakes up in the zone. They jumped out early, and it got away from him in the fourth inning," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said.
Seattle took three of four from the visiting Angels from April 25-28 and are still 6-3 in the last nine encounters.
The Mariners will hope that the Angels got all of their offense out of their system ahead of Wilson's start. The left-hander has lost three straight outings, including back-to-back 3-0 loss versus the White Sox.
On Friday, Wilson allowed two runs over seven innings, falling to 3-3 on the season with a 3.72 earned run average in nine starts. He has struck out six in two outings since fanning 12 in a loss at Houston on May 7.
The 32-year-old did get the better of Seattle on April 26, fanning nine over 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball. Wilson went 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA in three starts versus Seattle last year, his first with the Angels.
Mariners rookie Brandon Maurer had the best start of his brief career on April 25 when he faced Los Angeles. He picked up a victory with 6 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out six while working around seven hits and a walk.
The 22-year-old righty dropped two straight starts prior to a no-decision in Cleveland on Friday. Maurer allowed three runs on five hits and four walks, also striking out six over six innings of his club's eventual 6-3 setback.
"I thought he made some great strides against the left-handers today," Wedge said. "I thought he was impressive through that sixth inning."
Left-handers are still hitting .341 this season off Maurer, who is 2-5 with a 5.75 ERA through eight starts.
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