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JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer

Mariners defeat Angels 7-4 despite Ohtani’s 34th HR

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Ty France hit a three-run homer, Logan Gilbert struck out a career-high nine and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Los Angeles Angels 7-4 Sunday despite Shohei Ohtani’s 34th homer of the season.

Ohtani added to his major league-leading home run total in the ninth inning, hitting his first since the All-Star break.

David Fletcher’s 26-game hitting streak ended when he went 0 for 5. The streak was the second-longest in franchise history for the Angels.

Luis Torrens also went deep for the Mariners, who have won five of their last seven. His solo shot off Patrick Sandoval (2-4) in the fourth inning was his ninth of the season and extended Seattle’s lead to 3-0.

France, who had three hits and went 7 for 12 in the series, hit his 10th homer of the year when he drove Sandoval’s changeup over the wall in center in the sixth to give the Mariners a 6-0 advantage. He was beaned by a 92 mph fastball from Rich Wantz in the eighth inning, but remained in the game.

France has reached base in 43 of 47 games since returning from the injured list on May 24 and is batting .309 (54 for 175) during that span.

Gilbert (4-2) allowed two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out six of the first seven batters he faced as he improved to 4-0 in his last seven starts.

The Mariners have won their last nine starts when Gilbert has been on the mound, which is a franchise record for most consecutive starts in team wins by a rookie. Joel Piñeiro held the old mark at eight from 2000-01.

José Iglesias had two hits for the Angels, including a two-run double in the sixth.

Ohtani was 2 for 12 in the series going into the ninth inning, but the Angels’ two-way sensation finally broke through on a full count when he lined a slider from Paul Sewald that was below the strike zone into the seats in right-center.

Sandoval looked like his day was going to end early after being struck on the left forearm on France’s comebacker in the first inning, but the left-hander shook it off and ended up going seven innings for the second straight start. Sandoval was charged with six runs (four earned) on six hits with nine strikeouts.

The Mariners were able to strike early against the Angels. Mitch Haniger drew a one-out walk in the first and advanced to second on France’s infield single. Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch by Sandoval.

After Kyle Seager was retired on a popup, Sandoval looked like he was going to get out of the inning when Torrens hit a ground ball to first baseman Jared Walsh. But Walsh, who was playing midway between first and second base, lost his footing on the infield dirt and his throw to Sandoval at first was way off target, allowing two runs to score.

Walsh also struck out with the bases loaded to end the third inning in what was the Angels’ best scoring opportunity until they broke through in the sixth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: OF Dillon Thomas was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma after OF Jake Fraley was placed on the COVID-19 injured list.

Angels: OF Justin Upton, who has been on the injured list since June 25 due to a right low back strain, is expected to begin a rehab assignment sometime this week.

UP NEXT

Mariners: Off on Monday before beginning a two-game series at Colorado on Tuesday. LHP Marco Gonzales (1-5, 5.88 ERA) gets the call in the opener.

Angels: Ohtani (4-1, 3.49) takes the mound on Monday when Los Angeles starts a six-game road trip in Oakland.

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