ANGELS CAN'T FILL IN BLANKS MARINERS' BATISTA SHUTS DOWN L.A.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA

Staff Writer

SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners went headhunting Monday in their bid to move closer to the American League West lead.

If the first game between the Angels and Mariners in nine weeks was any indication, it should be a hard-fought battle for the division to the very end.

For the Angels, all hope at victory in the series opener literally whizzed by their ears.

A comebacker that nearly hit Angels starter Kelvim Escobar in the right ear and a bad-hop single that almost hit Casey Kotchman on the right cheek were all the run-scoring hits the Mariners needed in a 2-0 victory. The Angels' lead in the AL West was reduced to three games.

"We're trying to treat it as just any other game but everybody knows we're at the top of the division fighting it out," said Reggie Willits, who had two of the Angels' four hits. "It's probably going to go down to the end of the season so every game against these guys is big."

The Angels tore apart Detroit Tigers pitching all weekend to the tune of 34 runs in three games, but Mariners starter Miguel Batista had all the answers Monday. The right-hander didn't allow a run and gave up just four hits in seven innings with no walks and two strikeouts.

Willits had his two hits, Vladimir Guerrero had a two-out infield single in the first inning and Jeff Mathis had an infield single to lead off the third. That was it for an Angels offense that came to Seattle looking like it had solved its July funk.

"Batista has that ability," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's been throwing the ball well and he's been tough on us. He pitched a terrific game. Sometimes things switch like that, but I think overall offensively we're in much better shape than we were two, three weeks ago, so hopefully we'll have a better night (today)."

Mathis' third-inning hit was followed by one from Reggie Willits to give the Angels their best scoring chance of the night. But Chone Figgins struck out swinging and Orlando Cabrera flew out to center for the second out. Guerrero then crushed a low line drive to left field that carried long enough for Raul Ibanez to catch it off the top of the grass.

After Willits' third-inning single, Batista retired 15 of the last 16 Angels batters he faced, allowing just Willits' bloop single to right-center in the fifth.

Escobar also pitched well, allowing two runs on eight hits in a complete game.

But in what has become a theme for the Angels, if not the rest of the American League, there was simply no stopping Ichiro Suzuki.

Ichiro had three hits and scored one of the Mariners' runs while driving in the other. He is batting an even .400 (18 for 45) against the Angels this season and .317 for his career.

"He's amazing," Escobar said. "I'm impressed the way he just goes out there and hits the ball. You can bounce the ball and he can still hit it. You go inside, foul ball. You go away ... he's great; he's a great hitter."

Ichiro's second hit came in the third when he lined a ball into right-center field. It easily went for a triple as Guerrero was playing straightaway in right field and Gary Matthews Jr. was shaded to left-center.

Jose Vidro followed with a line drive up the middle that nearly hit Escobar in the head as he completed his follow through. Suzuki scored for a 1-0 lead.

"That was close. I was like, wow," Escobar said. "I was thinking about that for a whole inning. I don't think I would have a chance to catch that ball. He hit that ball hard."

In the seventh inning, Kenji Johjima hit a one-out single down the right- field line before Yuniesky Betancourt put runners on first and second with a two-out single. That brought up Ichiro, who hit a bouncer toward Kotchman at first base.

But as the ball hit the dirt some 10 feet in front of Kotchman it took a high hop and got by him over his right shoulder and just past his right ear.

Brandon Morrow and J.J. Putz (31st save) pitched the final two scoreless innings for the Mariners to close out the victory.

"They're going be tough," Scioscia said. "They have a good bullpen and they're going to hold leads. We do need early runs against a club like this and we didn't get them tonight. We did everything we could on the defensive end and Kelvim pitched a terrific game. We have to get into our game and we didn't do it tonight."

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Angels (Lackey 12-6) at Seattle (Weaver 2-9), 7p.m., Safeco Field.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) Angels right fielder Vladimir Guerrero chases down a single by Seattle's Kenji Johjima in the fifth inning.

(2) Mariners starter Miguel Batista allowed just four hits in seven innings Monday to earn his 11th win of the season.

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press