Angels blanked by Mariners, 5-0

KEY MOMENT: The Angels loaded the bases with no outs in the first when Johnny Giavotella walked and Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout singled. Albert Pujols struck out, and Giavotella was forced out at home on Erick Aybar’s grounder to third. David Freese smashed a line drive to right-center, but Nelson Cruz made a backhand diving catch to end the inning.

AT THE PLATE: An Angels offense that racked up 55 runs and 89 hits in the first seven games of the trip was blanked on three hits over eight innings by Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, who struck out six and walked two to improve to 7-2 with a 2.71 earned-run average against the Angels. Cruz had three hits and scored three runs for the Mariners, and Mark Trumbo hit RBI singles in the third off C.J. Wilson and the seventh off Mike Morin.
ON THE MOUND: Left-hander Wilson gave up three runs and five hits, striking out five, walking four and hitting a batter in 62/3 innings. He walked Jesus Montero with the bases loaded and gave up a sacrifice fly to Brad Miller in the second. Wilson’s line would have been worse had he not escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fifth.

IRONIC TWIST: It took almost four years, but Cruz got a little payback on Freese with his diving catch. It was Freese, then with St. Louis, who hit the score-tying two-run triple over the head of Cruz, then with Texas, in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. The Rangers were a strike away from a championship when Cruz reacted poorly to Freese’s drive and drifted on the catchable ball.

REHAB REPORT: Jered Weaver (left-hip inflammation) threw 44 pitches in the bullpen and 20 pitches to hitters in simulated-game conditions Saturday. He will undergo a similar workout Thursday, after which the Angels will determine whether to activate him or send him out for a minor league stint.
UP NEXT: Left-hander Andrew Heaney (2-0, 1.77 ERA) will oppose Seattle right-hander Taijuan Walker (7-6, 4.54) at Safeco Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. TV: FS West; Radio: 830.