M's get tripped up

ANAHEIM — Too bad they didn't keep playing the All-Star Game, since it was the last time Freddy Garcia pitched well.

The Seattle ace would take a tie at this point. Instead, he has been mulched in both his post-break starts, including last night when he lasted only 4-2/3 innings of a 15-3 Anaheim Angels win. A win that opened the key midseason weekend and ended a 12-game losing streak to the Mariners at Edison Field.

"I had a bad night, and I know I've had a couple of bad games," Garcia said. "I have no excuse. They hit me. They hit everything."

The top of the Angels' order sure did: 1 through 4 combined to go 13 for 18 with nine runs and 10 runs batted in.

While Garcia said he felt strong, he might have been too strong. Mariners Manager Lou Piniella pointed out he was not getting his curveball over, "and his changeup was a little too fast. He's got to deaden it a little. No question, we've got to get him on track."

While Garcia flopped opening a second key American League West series in a month, Angels starter Ramon Ortiz was fine, making sure the Mariners continued to fail with men in scoring position (2 for 9).

With Ortiz strong and Garcia gone, Seattle looked to left-hander Mark Watson to give them innings on a wasted night. Instead, Anaheim laid waste to Watson, too, rendering the game a rout with an eight-run sixth that was topped off with the longest, if not biggest, of Tim Salmon's five hits, a three-run home run.

As a result, Watson may have caused his own transaction. Since the Mariners had to use John Halama as well, they'll bring up another pitcher in case they need emergency long relief tonight.

"We'll have someone in here Saturday to help out," Piniella said of a move that could have Watson leaving to make room.

In the wake of the walloping, Seattle still can fulfill Piniella's objective "to win two of the three games in California."

His club still can if it can repeat what it did against Oakland late last month. After losing Garcia's start in the opener of that Safeco Field series, the Mariners recovered to win the final games of that meeting.

Luis Ugueto might have helped in the recovery. The little-used infielder hit his first major-league home run in the eighth.

With many of the sellout 43,407 in Angels red, the Big Ed looked like it was hosting a Nebraska football game. The crowd sat and smacked together the giveaways called "thunder sticks."

It was the Angels that made the thunder, 20 hits, led by a career-high-tying five by Salmon.

It was apparent as early as the first inning that the Mariners were in danger.

In the top of the inning, Seattle continued its problems hitting with men in scoring position (19 for 112 in the last 15 games).

Ichiro opened the game with a single to right and made the mistake of advancing to second on a passed ball by catcher Jose Molina. Ortiz quickly set down the next three batters.

Anaheim got two in the bottom of the inning, a rally started by Darin Erstad, who was a doubtful starter with an infected blood blister on his left foot but insisted on playing against Seattle after missing the previous three games.

He had a one-out double. Garcia went up on Salmon 0-2, but the Angels' right fielder got a handle hit to center on 1-2 to bring Erstad home and give Anaheim a 1-0 lead.

With the bases loaded and one out, Garcia dug in and got a ground ball from Brad Fullmer for a force at second, a second run scoring when Carlos Guillen lost the ball trying to make a quick double-play relay to first.

Seattle came back immediately when Bret Boone lined Ortiz's first pitch of the second inning for a single to center. Mike Cameron struck out for the 103rd time this year, and Carlos Guillen fanned on 3-2, with Boone getting a steal and third base when Molina bounced his throw into center field.

Dan Wilson singled to right and the Mariners had a hit with a runner in scoring position, and a run to make it 2-1.

Jeff Cirillo singled to put runners at the corners, but Ichiro put a poor swing on a 2-0 pitch and bounced out to end the chance for more.

Garcia got through the third, but barely made it through the fourth when the Angels pushed the lead to 5-1. He could not get through the fifth though, chased by Eckstein's two-out RBI single to make it 6-1.

In the fourth, Garcia was deflated by Molina's leadoff single.

"That one hurt," Garcia said. "I tried to make good pitches and he still got me. They all got me tonight. ... "

Bob Finnigan: 206-464-8276 or bfinnigan@seattletimes.com.

Key to the game

The Angels sent Garcia to the showers in the fourth inning and sealed it with an eight-run sixth.

Today

M's at Anaheim, 7:05 p.m., FSN; Ryan Franklin (4-2) vs. John Lackey (1-1)