Angels Get Biggest Comeback In A Dozen Years

Updated 6:06 AM PST, Mon, Jun 1, 2009

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The Angels haven't had a comeback win like this in nearly 13 years.

Kendry Morales capped a three-run ninth inning with a bases-loaded single, and Los Angeles overcame a seven-run deficit against an overworked Seattle Mariners bullpen to pull out a wild 9-8 victory on Sunday.

"We had some great at-bats in the ninth, and it paid off with the win," manager Mike Scioscia said. "The bullpen got outs that kept us in the game, and we didn't quit."

David Aardsma, who had converted all eight save chances and hadn't allowed a run in his previous 14 1-3 innings, failed to protect an 8-6 lead for starter Garrett Olson.

"I knew from the first pitch I threw," Aardsma said. "I gave it everything I had, but I couldn't put enough pitches in the strike zone. And by the time I did, I hadn't earned any close calls. I can live with hits ‚Äî but the walks? I didn't give us a chance."

It was the Angels' biggest comeback in a victory since July 15, 1996, at Texas under manager Marcel Lachemann -- the third time during that season that the Rangers lost after leading by seven runs.

This time, they waited until they were down to their last out to take their only lead.

Less than 24 hours after Angels closer Brian Fuentes blew a 3-0 lead for Matt Palmer by giving up a tying three-run homer to Jose Lopez, the Halos returned the favor to Aardsma (1-2).

Juan Rivera drew a bases-loaded walk that forced in the tying run. Morales, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the sixth, ended it with a single to left on a 2-2 pitch. It was the first time the Angels won a game they trailed after eight innings in 19 attempts this season.

"When I knew they were going to walk Torii, I kept thinking about the pitch I was going to get and what to look for," Morales said through a translator. "I was just patient and waited for my pitch."

Justin Speier (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory, as the Angels avoided a three-game sweep by the Mariners. Hunter and Mike Napoli helped trigger the comeback with home runs against Olson, who allowed five runs and five hits over 5 1-3 innings in his third start of the season after being staked to an 8-1 lead.

Vladimir Guerrero's two-out double in the first was the Angels' only hit until the fifth inning, when Napoli homered with two out. One inning later, Hunter hit a two-run shot on Olson's 65th and final pitch.

"I made mistakes and paid for them," Olson said. "A couple of bad pitches, they put guys on base, it just happens. You can't ever go into cruise control out there."

Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 24 games with four hits including a home run, and Endy Chavez also went deep for the Mariners.

The miracle finish got Angels starter Ervin Santana off the hook, after he gave up eight runs and 10 hits over 5 1-3 innings. It was his fourth start after missing the first 32 games of the campaign because of a sprained right elbow.