The Angels’ Mickey Moniak, left, and Zach Neto shake hands after scoring on Luis Rengifo’s two-run single during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. Soriano allowed one run on three hits in 7-2/3 innings. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Angels second baseman Brandon Drury makes a diving stop on a ground ball during the first inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Angels second baseman Brandon Drury throws to first base after making a diving stop on a ground ball during the first inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
during the first inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. Soriano allowed one run on three hits in 7-2/3 innings. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
The Seattle Mariners’ Tyler Locklear hits a single during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
The Seattle Mariners’ Tyler Locklear, center, gestures to the dugout after hitting a single during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
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Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. Soriano allowed one run on three hits in 7-2/3 innings. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
The Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe trots home to score on a bases-loaded walk during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe scores a run on a bases-loaded walk during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Brandon Drury runs home to score on a throwing error by Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert during the fifth inning on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Luis Rengifo hits a two-run single during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Zach Neto, right, is congratulated by teammate Mickey Moniak after scoring a run during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, left, pitching coach Pete Woodworth, center, and starting pitcher Logan Gilbert meet at the mound during the fifth inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco tags out the Angels’ Luis Rengifo as he attempts to steal second base during the fifth inning on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. Soriano allowed one run on three hits in 7-2/3 innings. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Angels shortstop Zach Neto throws to first base to complete a double play after forcing out the Seattle Mariners’ Dylan Moore, left, at second base during the fifth inning on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
The Seattle Mariners’ Jason Vosler is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after scoring a run during the fifth inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
The Seattle Mariners’ Victor Robles shows his frustration after flying out during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
The Angels’ Zach Neto is hit by a pitch during the seventh inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert walks through the dugout after being pulled during the seventh inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel tosses the ball to a teammate covering first base for an out during the seventh inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners left fielder Luke Raley makes a diving catch for an out during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
The Seattle Mariners’ Victor Robles blows a bubble with his gum during an at-bat in the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
The Seattle Mariners’ Victor Robles reacts to being walked during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Angels relief pitcher Roansy Contreras throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Angels shortstop Zach Neto, left, and left fielder Taylor Ward celebrate after their 5-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Angels designated hitter Luis Rengifo, left, and relief pitcher Roansy Contreras celebrate after their 5-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Angels shortstop Zach Neto, left, and right fielder Jo Adell celebrate after their 5-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
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The Angels’ Mickey Moniak, left, and Zach Neto shake hands after scoring on Luis Rengifo’s two-run single during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
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SEATTLE — When the Angels and Seattle Mariners met on Tuesday night, it was difficult to tell which team is in a pennant race and which one is bracing to unload players before next week’s trade deadline.
The Angels took advantage of the Mariners’ sloppy defense and anemic hitting to beat them, 5-1, their fifth straight victory against the team that has now blown a 10-game division lead in a month.
The Angels (44-57) are simply trying to “learn how to win,” as Manager Ron Washington says frequently, while building some momentum for next season.
That starts with the continued strong work of right-hander José Soriano, a 25-year-old who further establishes himself with every outing.
Soriano gave up one run in 7⅔ innings, dropping his ERA to 3.51 after 95 innings and 16 starts.
“He was outstanding,” Washington said. “We needed everything he gave us. It would have been even nicer if he could have got through the eighth. See how greedy I am now?”
Soriano has beaten the Mariners in each of his last two starts, holding Seattle to two runs in 13⅔ innings.
Soriano didn’t have any trouble until the fifth inning, when he gave up a leadoff double, threw a wild pitch and walked a batter. With runners at the corners and no outs, Washington came to the mound to talk to Soriano. No one was even warming in the bullpen, so it was clearly a motivational visit.
“He told me to keep my mind focused on one pitch at a time,” Soriano said through an interpreter.
Soriano induced a double play and then got a grounder, escaping the jam with only one run scoring. He then retired all six hitters he faced in the sixth and seventh before allowing a one-out single in the eighth.
While Soriano certainly deserves credit for his work, it’s worth nothing that the Mariners – even when they were playing well – are not a good offensive team. On Tuesday, they put star center fielder Julio Rodriguez and leadoff hitter J.P. Crawford on the injured list.
The Angels’ offense was also not doing anything against Seattle’s Logan Gilbert until the fifth inning.
Logan O’Hoppe led off the inning with a single, the Angels’ first baserunner of the game. Nolan Schanuel then singled. Brandon Drury hit a chopper to third, and Josh Rojas bounced his throw across the diamond, for an error.
Mickey Moniak drew a four-pitch, bases-loaded walk, which was unusual because Gilbert is one of baseball’s best control pitchers and Moniak rarely walks.
Zach Neto dropped a safety squeeze bunt up the first base line. Gilbert fielded it and threw wildly home. Two runs scored on the play, with the second scoring because Rojas obstructed Drury as he was trying to score.
Luis Rengifo, in his first game after three weeks on the injured list, punched a two-run single into center, putting the Angels ahead, 5-0.
By the time the inning came to an end, fans at T-Mobile Park were booing the home team, which has now lost 19 of its last 28 games.
“Neto dropped a bunt trying to make something happen and it turned out to be a five-run inning,” Washington said. “Sometimes those things happen.”
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