Angels can’t solve Paxton, drop 4th straight

SEATTLE — Mike Trout robbed a grand slam on his 25th birthday, but it wasn’t enough to keep his Angels from being swept in Seattle.

Backed by a strong, injury-interrupted start from James Paxton and a big fourth-inning rally, the Mariners held on for a 3-1 victory over their division rivals from Safeco Field on Sunday, giving them three straight victories on a weekend dedicated to Hall of Fame center fielder Ken Griffey Jr.

Paxton gave up only one unearned run through the first eight innings, took the ball for the ninth and got Jefry Marte to fly out. The next batter, Andrelton Simmons, smoked a line drive that hit Paxton squarely in his left elbow, forcing him to leave the game. Tom Wilhelmson checked in and recorded the next two outs to record the save.

Paxton scattered five hits and issued one walk before exiting, recording six strikeouts — four of them against Trout — to drop his ERA to 3.53. The Mariners picked up all three of their runs against Matt Shoemaker in the third, and would’ve had three more if not for Trout’s home-run-robbing catch against Leonys Martin.

Seattle improved to 57-53, jumping ahead of the Astros for second place in the American League West and staying seven games back of the first-place Rangers.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDBirthday robbery: Trout homered in three of his first four birthdays in the Major Leagues, and on his fifth he took a big one away. With the …

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