Mariners Skunked 7-1, Lose Sixth Game In Row

The only good thing that happened to the Mariners Wednesday in Anaheim was that Mike Trout didn’t hit for the cycle for the second day in a row, although he started off as he would with a single and a triple in his first two at-bats. The Mariners contained Trout’s damage from there, but fell to the Angels 7-1 a day after losing 12-0.

The Mariners could not get anything going offensively in the series, outscored 19-1 as an encore to losing four in a row in Cleveland, three on walk-off hits. Seattle has lost a season-high six consecutive games and is barely hanging on to third place in the AL West ahead of the Angels, who have won four in a row.

Seattle ended its nine-day, nine-game road trip 2-7 — begun with a series win in New York — outscored 50-19. Coupled with Texas’ 3-1 win over Oakland Wednesday, the Mariners (20-27) are 10 games behind the Rangers in the AL West. Last year after 47 games, Seattle stood 21-26 and 7 out.

The Angels made a mockery of Wednesday’s game early, scoring seven runs off rookie Seattle starter Brandon Maurer in the first two innings. A 22-year-old making the jump from AA ball to the majors and pitching for the first time in front of southern California family and friends, Maurer was in over his head from the outset. He lasted just 3.0 innings while yielding 11 hits. He struck out two, walked two, departed with an ERA of 6.80.

The 11 hits and seven earned runs allowed by Maurer were season highs.

Winner C.J. Wilson (4-3) allowed one run on six hits in 8.0 innings and struck out 10.

“It was a tough day for Maurer,” Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. “He just wasn’t able to keep the ball down consistently. He made a lot of mistakes in the middle and up in the zone. He competed and battled. He’s a tough kid. There were some plays early in the game that would have helped him.

“We’re still a good club.”

The Angels sent nine men to the plate against Maurer in the first inning and scored five times on six hits. After loading the bases, Josh Hamilton rapped a single to left, driving in Trout and Albert Pujols for a 2-0 lead. Alberto Callaspo abetted the bloodletting with a two-run double to right center for a 4-0 lead. Hank Conger, the No. 8 hitter, drove home Callaspo with a single.

Trout, who singled in the first, then tripled in the second, came home on a Pujols single as L. A. went up 6-0. It went to 7-0 in the third when, after Callaspo’s single, Erik Aybar singled, driving him home.

The Mariners scored in the eighth when Brendan Ryan, who reached on a single, tallied on a Michael Saunders ground ball.

In their past four games, the Mariners have been blanked three times and outscored 35-9.

After Maurer left, Charlie Furbush delivered 3.0 solid innings for Seattle. He did not allow a hit, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.

Kendrys Morales, the former Angel who came to Seattle last winter in a trade for LHP Jason Vargas, had three of his team’s seven hits. The Mariners stranded nine runners and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

The Mariners take Thursday off and begin a three-game series with the AL West first-place Rangers Friday night at Safeco Field.

Joe Saunders (3-4, 5.46) will work for Seattle against Justin Grimm (3-3, 4.02). Saunders is 8-0 in his career at Safeco Field. Friday begins a stretch of 20 games in 20 days for the Mariners, whose next day off is June 13.

NOTES: After recording just one blown save in their first 38 games, the Mariners had three in the first seven games of the road trip, two by Charlie Furbush, one by Tom Wilhelmsen . . . Mariners are 5-2-1 in their last seven series after going 0-5-2 in their first seven . . . Nineteen of Seattle’s first 46 games were decided by one run. The Mariners are 9-10.