Ryan Johnson and Josh Lowe deliver for Angels in 2-1 win that clinches losing season for Mariners

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Johnson pitched six strong innings, Josh Lowe hit a tiebreaking home run and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Vaughn Grissom had an RBI double and Johnson (5-8) gave up one run on six hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. He won consecutive starts for the first time in his career.

Julio Rodríguez had an RBI double for the Mariners and Logan Gilbert allowed two runs on six hits over six innings. Gilbert (12-10) fanned seven in his first outing since becoming the first Seattle pitcher with double-digit strikeouts in consecutive starts since 2018.

The Mariners (70-82) dropped their third straight game, clinching their first losing record in a full season since 2019. They also had a losing mark during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

The Angels finally broke through in a pitchers’ duel in the fifth. Wade Meckler hit a two-out single and scored when Grissom followed with a double to left field.

The Mariners responded immediately. Dominic Canzone led off the sixth against Johnson with a triple to left field and scored on a one-out double to left-center by Rodríguez.

The Angels regained the lead in the bottom half when Lowe hit a one-out homer to right-center against Gilbert, his 12th of the season.

Tayler Saucedo followed Johnson with a scoreless seventh inning and José Fermin did not allow a run in the eighth despite getting hit in the foot with Canzone's comebacker that ended up as a groundout.

Ryan Watson pitched the ninth to earn his third save and second with the Angels.

After coming within one victory of reaching its first World Series last season, Seattle is nearing elimination from playoff contention.

Mariners RHP George Kirby (9-11, 4.25 ERA) will face Angels LHP Yusei Kikuchi (1-5, 4.75) in the finale of the three-game series Wednesday night.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez, front, runs to third base as Los Angeles Angels third baseman Denzer Guzman, back, reaches for the ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Seattle Mariners' Cole Young (2) reacts after hitting a foul ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Angels' Josh Lowe (3), left, is greeted by teammates after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Ryan Johnson throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A local NBC news helicopter crashed in a Los Angeles neighborhood on Tuesday and burst into flames, killing at least three people while reporters were covering the nearby crash of an SUV and a city bus, officials said.

Colleen Williams, an NBC4 Los Angeles anchor, confirmed during a live broadcast that the station's chopper went down just before 7 p.m.

“We are going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, process it,” she said, her voice shaking with emotion. Moments later their coverage abruptly cut off.

The helicopter crashed near a storage building in the neighborhood of Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley, as news crews were covering the bus crash that left at least two people dead and six others injured, according the Los Angeles Fire Department.

At least one person killed in the helicopter crash was outside in the parking lot next to the commercial building, Capt. Branden Silverman, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, said during a news conference. It was unclear if the other two who were killed were on the ground or inside the aircraft.

One person was taken to the hospital, but their condition was not known.

“We’re trying to determine how many patients were inside the helicopter,” said Silverman, who described the helicopter as “pretty well destroyed” and adding that officials would be sorting through the rubble to see how many victims were on board.

At least four cars and two storage containers on the ground burned after the helicopter caught fire, which was quickly put out, according to officials. More than 50 firefighters responded to the helicopter crash, according to the fire department.

About two hours before the crash, an SUV slammed into the middle of a city bus, killing at least two people and injuring six others. Photos and videos online showed half of the SUV lodged into the side of an MTA bus.

NBCLA has confirmed the helicopter was NewsChopper4, which is operated by Angel City Air. The outlet said several TV news helicopters were reporting on the bush crash before the news chopper went down about a mile and a half (1.6 kilometers) from the bus collision.

Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked the emergency crews responding to both crashes and said in a post on X that “our hearts are with the victims and families.”

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration said it will be investigating the cause of the helicopter crash and would be sending one of its investigators on Wednesday.

Golden reported from Seattle.

In this still image provided by KABC-TV shows first responders work the scene after a helicopter crashed near a bus crash in Chatsworth, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (KABC-TV via AP)

In this still image provided by KABC-TV shows First responders work the scene after a helicopter crashed near a bus crash in Chatsworth, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (KABC-TV via AP)

In this still image provided by KABC-TV shows firefighters respond to a deadly bus crash, in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (KABC-TV via AP)

In this still image provided by KABC-TV shows a helicopter that crashed near a deadly bus crash, in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (KABC-TV via AP)

First responders work the scene after a helicopter crashed near a bus crash in Chatsworth, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)