Jake Cave hits tying homer in 9th, the Rockies beat the Angels 5-4 in 10 innings

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jake Cave hit a tying two-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning and the Colorado Rockies scored on an error in the 10th to beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-4 on Thursday night.

Cave homered off Hunter Strickland, the right-hander who is being used to finish off games after closer Carlos Estevez was traded to Philadelphia on Saturday.

“You just want to get it to the next guy and hope somebody can put a run across, but you get to a 3-1 count and you tell yourself that this is the time to get my best swing off,” Cave said. “He left one center cut and that's what (can) happen when they get behind.”

Michael Toglia added a two-run home run for the Rockies, who have won consecutive games following a five-game losing streak. Colorado won a series for the third time in four tries since the All-Star break.

“All wins count the same, but some wins are better than others,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “This was a good one. Coming off our (losing) series in San Francisco then coming here winning two in a row, in two close games, really good stuff. This is going to be a good bus ride down (to San Diego) for everybody.”

With Jacob Stallings at second base to open the 10th inning for Colorado, Sam Hilliard attempted a sacrifice bunt. Angels right-hander Hans Crouse (4-3) threw the ball wide of first base, allowing Hillard to score the go-ahead run.

Logan O’Hoppe and Mickey Moniak hit home runs for the Angels, who have lost five of their past seven games. Right-hander Carson Fulmer gave up two runs on three hits over six innings for Los Angeles in his fourth start of the season.

Stickland has one save and one blown save since taking over as closer.

“He just gave into that hitter, tried to get a strike over there and make him swing the bat” Angels manager Ron Washington said of Strickland's at-bat against Cave. “He got us to the point where we needed just one pitch to get out of that inning and he didn't make it.”

Toglia gave the Rockies a 2-0 lead in the seventh inning with his 19th home run, immediately following a single from Brendan Rodgers.

The Angels tied it in the fourth inning when Willie Calhoun led off with a single and O’Hoppe hit a home run to center, his 16th. Moniak’s home run in the sixth ,to give the Angels a 4-3 lead, was his seventh on the season.

The Angels added a run in the seventh inning for a 4-2 lead on a double from Taylor Ward.

Colorado right-hander Ryan Feltner gave up three runs over six innings for Colorado, while right-hander Victor Vodnik (3-1) pitched a scoreless ninth inning. Right-hander Tyler Kinley pitched the 10th for his career-best sixth save.

“I think there are a lot of guys in the clubhouse who are playing really well and it kind of seemed like for a little bit we couldn't put it all together,” said Feltner, who has a combined 2.88 ERA over his last seven starts yet does not have a win to show for it. “But we seem to be firing on all cylinders right now.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: RHP German Marquez (elbow) threw a 34-pitch bullpen session and is set to have another bullpen this weekend at San Diego before the club decides on a return or a minor league rehab assignment.

Angels: OF Mike Trout (knee) was diagnosed with a second torn meniscus that occurred during the rehab for his initial injury and will not return this season. Injuries have kept Trout from playing more than 82 games in three of the past four seasons. ... INF Luis Rengifo (wrist) was out of the lineup after aggravating an injury that had him on the injured list for almost three weeks in July.

UP NEXT

Rockies: LHP Austin Gomber (2-7, 4.79 ERA) was scheduled to start Friday at San Diego.

Angels: LHP Tyler Anderson (8-9, 2.96 ERA) was set to start Friday in the opener of a home series against the New York Mets.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels' Mickey Moniak (16) celebrates with teammate Brandon Drury after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels' Logan O'Hoppe celebrates while running the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Colorado Rockies' Jacob Stallings, right, is hit by a pitch during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Colorado Rockies designated hitter Charlie Blackmon runs to first base during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Colorado Rockies' Michael Toglia (4) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Julio Rodríguez homered twice to drive in five runs, George Kirby went six innings for his 13th victory and the AL wild card-chasing Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 8-2 on Friday night.

Rodríguez put the Mariners (79-75) ahead to stay with his three-run homer in the fifth off Jack Leiter, who relieved Jacob deGrom after the two-time Cy Young Award winner made his first home start in nearly 17 months after elbow surgery.

Seattle remained two games behind Minnesota for the third and final wild card after the Twins beat Boston 4-2 in 12 innings. The Mariners stayed five back of Houston in the AL West with eight games remaining, three in Houston.

“We’re still in it. Everyone’s confident. Just got to to keep playing good baseball," Kirby said.

“It feels great. Obviously we have a shot to get into the playoffs,” Rodríguez said. “But I feel like everybody knows that and understands that at the same time we've got to take it one day at a time. ... We've got to focus on that right now.”

Rodríguez tied a career high for RBIs with his first multihomer game this season. His first homer put Seattle up 4-2, and he went deep off the rookie right-hander again in the seventh with a two-run shot the opposite way to right field for his 18th of the year.

Kirby (13-11) beat the reigning World Series champions again, five days after facing the minimum 21 batters over seven scoreless innings at home against them. The 26-year-old right-hander is 7-0 with a 1.15 ERA in nine career starts against Texas. He struck out four without a walk this time while allowing two runs on five hits.

“George jumped picked up right where he left off against Texas back at home,” Seattle manager Dan Wilson said.

Nathaniel Lowe had a two-run single for the Rangers (73-81), who have already been eliminated from the AL West race and are on the verge of being officially knocked out of wild-card contention and guaranteed a losing record.

Lowe's hit ended Kirby's streak of 34 consecutive scoreless innings against Texas in a span of seven starts since Sept. 28, 2022.

DeGrom struck out five over three innings, and the only run he allowed was when No. 9 batter Josh Rojas led off the third with a homer. Rojas later added a sacrifice fly.

Leiter (0-3) allowed seven runs (six earned) over five innings. He struck out five and walked two while throwing 57 of 92 pitches for strikes.

A week after throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings in his season debut on the road, also against the Mariners, deGrom threw 37 of 58 pitches for strikes and had one walk. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy had said the 36-year-old right-hander would throw about 60 pitches.

“Definitely felt better than my first one. I think maybe a little bit less nerves, worked on some things in between,” said deGrom, who will get one more start this season. "It’s little things that I've got to continue to work on, but my arm felt good and that was the most important thing.”

It was the first start at home for deGrom since he left in the middle of the fourth inning against the New York Yankees on April 28, 2023. That was the sixth and last start in the first season of his $185 million, five-year contract.

UP NEXT

Three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer (2-4, 3.95 ERA) makes his second start since coming off the IL after missing 40 games with right shoulder fatigue and an arm nerve issue. Rookie right-hander Emerson Hancock (3-4, 4.83) starts for Seattle.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Texas Rangers' Nathaniel Lowe (30) hits a two-run single in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez celebrates in the dugout after a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby (68) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Seattle Mariners Josh Rojas (4) celebrates in the dugout after a solo home run against the Texas Rangers in the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) and catcher Jonah Heim (28) walk back to the dugout in the first inning in a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez (44) hits a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby (68) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez reacts toward the dugout as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)