ANAHEIM -- Rookie left-hander James Paxton threw seven shutout innings and the Mariners offense continued to roll as Seattle completed an impressive three-game sweep of the Angels with an 8-2 win Wednesday night.The Mariners outscored the Halos 26-8 in the series and opened the year with a 3-0 record for just third time in franchise history and first since 1995. It was Seattle's first series sweep at Angel Stadium since 2006, and the Angels hadn't been swept in a three-game season-opening series since 1992.Catcher Mike Zunino's three-run home run in the sixth paced the offensive outburst, but Paxton was the story of the game for Seattle as the 25-year-old Canadian gave up just two hits with two walks and nine strikeouts in a dominating 99-pitch performance. 
The 6-foot-4 Paxton was outstanding in four September starts as a late-season callup last year and now is 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA in five Major League outings.Paxton's next start will be Tuesday in the Mariners' home opener against the Angels at Safeco Field.The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the third when Brad Miller hustled into second with a double, sliding under the tag of Howie Kendrick on a throw from right fielder Kole Calhoun, then scored on Robinson Cano's single up the middle.That was Cano's first RBI as a Mariner, and the new $240 million second baseman continued producing early and often, going 2-for-4 with a walk. Cano has reached base in 9-of-15 plate appearances in three games, hitting .455 (5-for-11) with four walks.Miller continued his own hot start with a 2-for-5 night and is hitting .333 with four RBIs. Miller's run-scoring single in the fifth gave Seattle a 2-0 lead on Hector Santiago, making his first start for the Angels after being acquired in an offseason trade from the White Sox.Rookie right fielder Stefen Romero recorded his first Major League hit with a single in the fourth, then roped an RBI double down the left-field line in the sixth. When Zunino followed with his three-run shot, Paxton had a welcome 6-0 lead.He gave up a leadoff double to Calhoun and walked Mike Trout to open the game, but got out of that situation with a double-play grounder by Albert Pujols and a line drive by David Freese that center fielder Abraham Almonte snared with a sliding grab.Paxton had recorded nine straight outs by the time Trout came up again, and this time, the Angels' young star doubled to left field leading off the fourth. But again the young lefty dug in, striking out Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Kendrick around a one-out walk to Freese to leave Trout standing at second.Paxton struck out the side in order in the fifth, giving him six strikeouts in seven batters, and he wound up with nine on the night, including three of Hamilton.Justin Smoak and Corey Hart finished Seattle's scoring with back-to-back solo homers in the ninth. Smoak went 2-for-5 and is batting .462 (6-for-13) with two home runs and seven RBIs, while Hart's bomb was his first as a Mariner after signing as a free agent.The Angels got on the scoreboard in the ninth with an RBI triple by Trout and a sacrifice fly by Freese off Hector Noesi, but all that did was close the final margin on Seattle's season-opening sweep.Greg Johns / MLB.com
The 6-foot-4 Paxton was outstanding in four September starts as a late-season callup last year and now is 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA in five Major League outings.Paxton's next start will be Tuesday in the Mariners' home opener against the Angels at Safeco Field.The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the third when Brad Miller hustled into second with a double, sliding under the tag of Howie Kendrick on a throw from right fielder Kole Calhoun, then scored on Robinson Cano's single up the middle.That was Cano's first RBI as a Mariner, and the new $240 million second baseman continued producing early and often, going 2-for-4 with a walk. Cano has reached base in 9-of-15 plate appearances in three games, hitting .455 (5-for-11) with four walks.Miller continued his own hot start with a 2-for-5 night and is hitting .333 with four RBIs. Miller's run-scoring single in the fifth gave Seattle a 2-0 lead on Hector Santiago, making his first start for the Angels after being acquired in an offseason trade from the White Sox.Rookie right fielder Stefen Romero recorded his first Major League hit with a single in the fourth, then roped an RBI double down the left-field line in the sixth. When Zunino followed with his three-run shot, Paxton had a welcome 6-0 lead.He gave up a leadoff double to Calhoun and walked Mike Trout to open the game, but got out of that situation with a double-play grounder by Albert Pujols and a line drive by David Freese that center fielder Abraham Almonte snared with a sliding grab.Paxton had recorded nine straight outs by the time Trout came up again, and this time, the Angels' young star doubled to left field leading off the fourth. But again the young lefty dug in, striking out Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Kendrick around a one-out walk to Freese to leave Trout standing at second.Paxton struck out the side in order in the fifth, giving him six strikeouts in seven batters, and he wound up with nine on the night, including three of Hamilton.Justin Smoak and Corey Hart finished Seattle's scoring with back-to-back solo homers in the ninth. Smoak went 2-for-5 and is batting .462 (6-for-13) with two home runs and seven RBIs, while Hart's bomb was his first as a Mariner after signing as a free agent.The Angels got on the scoreboard in the ninth with an RBI triple by Trout and a sacrifice fly by Freese off Hector Noesi, but all that did was close the final margin on Seattle's season-opening sweep.Greg Johns / MLB.com
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