“I was trying to find the adjectives to describe this guy today, but what a godsend he’s been for this rotation,” Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. “He’s been tremendous. In and out, up and down, he never wavers and knows what he wants to do.”
Young (4-2) kept the Angels without a hit until Kole Calhoun’s single with one out in the sixth inning. An inning later, Pujols hit his 506th career home run, pulling within three of Gary Sheffield for 24th on baseball’s all-time homer list.
Young lasted only two more batters after Pujols’ homer, getting pulled after issuing a walk to Raul Ibanez. He struck out five and walked three.
But Young’s strong pitching at Safeco Field continued. In four starts at home this season, Young is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA.
It was a solid rebound for Young, who got knocked around in losing his previous two starts. He gave up 10 hits and five runs in losing to Minnesota and allowed four runs and seven hits in a loss to Texas last week.
In Young’s last seven starts for Seattle, the Mariners are 5-2. It’s an impressive turnaround considering Young spent all of last season out of the majors after shoulder surgery.
“When you’re out there competing, you expect to win. I wouldn’t take the ball if I didn’t expect to go out and compete and win,” Young said. “To say it’s surprising, after all the hard work and time rehabbing I put in I would say no.”
After McClendon lamented Seattle’s production following losses over the weekend to Houston, the Mariners responded with five runs in the first two innings off Tyler Skaggs (4-2). Seattle scored three unearned runs with two outs in the second.
Despite the early trouble, Skaggs threw seven innings and struck out eight.
“Tyler understood keeping us in the game,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “He made pitches, got on a great streak and pitched seven innings. But the damage was done early.”
NOTES: Angels dropped to 1-5 vs. Seattle this season. … Seattle LHP James Paxton (back) said he was not sure when his next throwing session would be after making his first rehab start at Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday. … Seattle RHP Taijuan Walker (shoulder) is scheduled to make his first rehab start on Wednesday at Tacoma.
