8 with destiny? Seattle streaks into WC chase

ANAHEIM — Kyle Seager and Nelson Cruz provided the offense with solo home runs and Hisashi Iwakuma picked up his career-high 16th win as the surging Mariners topped the Angels, 2-1, for their eighth straight win Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.

The Mariners moved within 1 1/2 games of the American League’s second Wild Card spot at 78-68 as they equaled their longest winning streak since July 2013. Seattle now heads home after sweeping both the A’s and Angels, with the 6-0 road trip just the third perfect trip of six games or more in club history.

“When we got on the plane, we just kept thinking, ‘Win series, win series,'” said first-year manager Scott Servais. “And you win the first couple and, hey, why not sweep it? That’s been the mentality of this club. Everybody is doing their part. It’s the starters, the bullpen, the guys coming off the bench just doing their job.”

Iwakuma allowed one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings as he improved to 16-11 with a 3.87 ERA. Relievers Tom Wilhelmsen, Steve Cishek and Edwin Diaz closed out the win by retiring the last seven batters in order, with the 22-year-old Diaz collecting his 16th save in 17 chances.

• Kuma’s career-high 16th win keeps Mariners rolling

Angels starter Jhoulys Chacin pitched well as a late replacement for sore-armed Tyler Skaggs, throwing six innings of one-run ball on three hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Chacin turned a 1-1 tie over to his bullpen, but reliever Jose Valdez immediately gave up a home run to Cruz leading off the seventh.

For Chacin, it was his first start since Aug. 21 and his longest appearance since pitching a complete game against the Tigers on May 30.

“He threw a good game,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “I think he commanded his sinker, changed speeds very well, and for a guy who hadn’t started in a while, that’s six strong innings against a team that’s been hitting the ball well.”

The Angels have lost seven of their last eight, falling to 63-82. Seattle won the season series, 11-8.

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