Calhoun's clutch shot helps Halos snap skid

Calhoun's clutch shot helps Halos snap skid

September 16th, 2018

ANAHEIM -- picked an opportune time to end his 0-for-25 slump.
Calhoun launched a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning to lift the Angels to a 4-3 win over the Mariners in Sunday's series finale at Angel Stadium.
The Angels' right fielder snapped a 3-3 tie by driving a 3-2 cutter from reliever Nick Vincent out to left-center field for his 19th home run of the season and his first since Sept. 1 at Houston.
"I was just looking for a pitch to hit, really, with a 3-2 count and two outs there," Calhoun said. "I was looking to put something in play. The ball got a lot of plate and I put a pretty good swing on it."

Justin Anderson worked a scoreless eighth before giving way to , who struck out the side in the ninth to earn his third save of the year. Buttrey, who was acquired from the Red Sox as part of the trade on Aug. 30, has allowed only one run over 13 2/3 innings (0.66 ERA) while striking out 16 in his first 13 appearances for the Angels.
"Ty is showing that whatever situation he's put in, he goes out there and makes pitches," manager Mike Scioscia said. "That's a great indicator that a guy can handle the back end of a bullpen and pitching in high-leverage situations. His stuff is really good. He's got a fastball that he can get by guys, and he can get under their swings with changeups and breaking balls, too. That combination is huge. He showed it this afternoon."

The Angels avoided being swept by the Mariners in a four-game series for the first time since July 7-10, 2005.
continued his recent power surge by crushing a three-run shot off Mariners left-hander that put the Angels on the board in the third inning. Upton's 30 home runs this season set a franchise record for most homers by a left fielder, breaking Garret Anderson's previous mark of 29.
Rookie did not factor into the decision after surrendering three runs on six hits over five innings for the Angels.

The Mariners opened the scoring in the third after Dee Gordon singled and scored on Mitch Haniger's RBI double, but the Angels countered with Upton's three-run shot in the bottom half of the inning.
After doubled and walked, Upton hammered a 2-1 changeup from Gonzales off the right-field wall to give the Angels a 3-1 lead. It was Upton's fourth home run in as many games.

"We didn't do a good job against Upton, there is no question," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "He got some balls up out over the plate and took a ball the other way today. Most of his balls against us have been to the pull side. He had a good series, we didn't make good pitches against him."
The lead proved short-lived, however, as the Mariners came back to tie it on 's two-run blast off Barria in the fourth. Vogelbach started at designated hitter on Sunday in place of , who was a late scratch due to illness.

Scioscia said he thought Barria was able to channel his frustration from the home run and rebound by posting a 1-2-3 fifth in his final inning.
"I don't know if Jaime was as crisp," Scioscia said. "He lost a lot of counts, he had trouble getting his secondary pitches into the game to be effective. I think after the home run from Vogelbach, his stuff picked up. I think he got pissed off. He started throwing the ball like he can."
replaced Barria in the sixth and pitched two scoreless innings to bridge the gap to the back end of the Angels' bullpen. The 29-year-old right-hander has posted a 1.27 ERA in 13 relief appearances for the club this season.

FLETCHER DEPARTS
Rookie second baseman exited the game in the first inning with a left hamstring strain. Fletcher lined a double to right field in his lone at-bat against Gonzales, but he sustained the injury as he was starting to round first base and slowed down as he approached second. He was promptly replaced by Cowart.

UP NEXT
After an off-day on Monday, the Angels will begin their final road trip of the season on Tuesday night against the A's at 7:05 p.m. PT at the Coliseum. Left-hander (8-8, 3.78 ERA) will return from the disabled list and start for the Angels. He will be opposed by A's right-hander (0-1, 5.60 ERA). Skaggs has not pitched since Aug. 11 due to a left adductor strain. He is 2-5 with a 5.32 ERA in eight career starts against Oakland.