Read More: Maicer Izturis (3B – ANA), Trayvon Robinson (CF – SEA), Charlie Furbush (P – SEA), Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels, Sep 7, 2011 7:05 PM PDT

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) – Maicer Izturis sparked a three-run eighth inning with a two-run double, and Jerome Williams tossed eight spectacular innings to help the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beat the Seattle Mariners, 3-1, in the rubber match of a three-game series. Peter Bourjos added an RBI single in the eighth for the Angels, who moved 2 1/2 games back of the Rangers in the AL West. Texas lost to the Rays on Wednesday.

Williams (3-0) made just one mistake all night — a homer to Trayvon Robinson in the sixth — to pick up his third straight victory. The right-hander struck out five and walked one. Charlie Furbush (3-8) allowed three runs on five hits over a career-high 7 1/3 innings for the Mariners, who have lost six of seven.

For more news and information on the Angels, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Halos Heaven.

Read More: Felix Hernandez (P – SEA), Ervin Santana (P – ANA), Gil Velazquez (SS – ANA), Alexi Amarista (2B – ANA), Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels, Sep 6, 2011 7:05 PM PDT

The Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners are set to battle Tuesday night in Anaheim in the second game of a three-game series. Ervin Santana and Felix Hernandez face off in what should be a great pitchers’ duel. Before the game, the Angels added a pair of infielders to the active roster, recalling Alexi Amarista and Gil Velazquez.

Amarista is in his third stint with the Angels this year. He has seven hits in 48 at-bats in 20 games with the Angels earlier this season. The 31-year old Velasquez hit .328 with 25 doubles and 17 stolen bases with Triple A Salt Lake this season. His last game in the majors came on May 16, 2009, while with the Boston Red Sox.

Here are Tuesday’s starting lineups:

Mariners (58-82)

Ichiro RF
Ryan SS
Ackley 2B
Carp DH
Smoak 1B
Olivo C
Seager 3B
Robinson LF
Saunders CF

Angels (77-64)

Izturis 2B
Aybar SS
Abreu DH
Hunter RF
Trumbo 1B
Callaspo 3B
Wells LF
Bourjos CF
Wilson C

Tuesday’s 7:05 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Fox Sports West. For more news and information on the Angels, be sure to read Halos Heaven.

Despite having a day off Thursday, the Seattle Mariners made a couple of roster moves in preparation for today’s start of a road series against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.

The Mariners optioned struggling outfielder Greg Halman to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday. While they did not immediately announce a corresponding roster move to fill Halman’s spot on the 25-man roster, a pair of sources within the Mariners confirmed that recently acquired outfielder Trayvon Robinson would take his place.

Robinson has been with the Rainiers for a handful games since he came from the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-team trade that sent Erik Bedard and Josh Fields to the Boston Red Sox.

Robinson was born in South Central Los Angeles and was a high school standout at Crenshaw High School. The Dodgers selected him in the 10th round of the 2005 draft.

He was rated as the Dodgers’ 10th best prospect coming into this season by Baseball America.

Robinson put together an outstanding season in his first year of Triple A. In 100 games with Albuquerque, he hit .293 with nine doubles, six triples, 26 homers and 71 RBI. He has a .375 on-base percentage and a .563 slugging percentage. His most glaring negative statistic is his 122 strikeouts in 368 at-bats. He played in three games with the Rainiers and had one hit in nine at-bats.

Halman, 23, had his issues with strikeouts this season, just as he has for much of his career.

The talented rookie showed moments of brilliance in his time with the Mariners, but never got consistent playing time because of a logjam of outfielders. He struggled of late, getting just two hits in his last 28 at-bats with a homer and 12 strikeouts. In 30 games, he hit .230 (20-for-87) with four homers and nine RBI and struck out 32 times.

Playing every few days wasn’t helping Halman, and with the acquisition of Casper Wells, his playing time was likely to decrease.

CUST RELEASED

Designated hitter Jack Cust was officially released by the Mariners on Thursday. Cust was designated for assignment on July 29.

Per major league baseball rules, the Mariners had 10 days to trade him, release him or send him outright to their minor league system.

The Mariners had to offer Cust on waivers, but he wasn’t picked up by any of the 29 other teams. That gave the Mariners the option to outright him to Triple-A Tacoma or release him. They chose the latter.

Cust, 32, hit .213 (48-for-225) with 15 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 23 RBI in 67 games for the Mariners this season.

ON T

The Mariners open a three-game series against the Angels today at Angels Stadium in Anaheim. Left-hander Jason Vargas (6-10, 4.19 ERA) will start for Seattle, while the Angels will go with ace Jered Weaver (14-5, 1.88 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Root Sports and 710-AM.

Ryan Divish: 253-597-8483 ryan.divish@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners

RYAN DIVISH; Staff Writer |
• Published August 05, 2011

Despite having a day off Thursday, the Seattle Mariners made a couple of roster moves in preparation for today’s start of a road series against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.

The Mariners optioned struggling outfielder Greg Halman to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday. While they did not immediately announce a corresponding roster move to fill Halman’s spot on the 25-man roster, a pair of sources within the Mariners confirmed that recently acquired outfielder Trayvon Robinson would take his place.

Robinson has been with the Rainiers for a handful games since he came from the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-team trade that sent Erik Bedard and Josh Fields to the Boston Red Sox.

Robinson was born in South Central Los Angeles and was a high school standout at Crenshaw High School. The Dodgers selected him in the 10th round of the 2005 draft.

He was rated as the Dodgers’ 10th best prospect coming into this season by Baseball America.

Robinson put together an outstanding season in his first year of Triple A. In 100 games with Albuquerque, he hit .293 with nine doubles, six triples, 26 homers and 71 RBI. He has a .375 on-base percentage and a .563 slugging percentage. His most glaring negative statistic is his 122 strikeouts in 368 at-bats. He played in three games with the Rainiers and had one hit in nine at-bats.

Halman, 23, had his issues with strikeouts this season, just as he has for much of his career.

The talented rookie showed moments of brilliance in his time with the Mariners, but never got consistent playing time because of a logjam of outfielders. He struggled of late, getting just two hits in his last 28 at-bats with a homer and 12 strikeouts. In 30 games, he hit .230 (20-for-87) with four homers and nine RBI and struck out 32 times. Playing every few days wasn’t helping Halman and with the acquisition of Casper Wells, his playing time was likely to decrease.

CUST RELEASED

Designated hitter Jack Cust was officially released by the Mariners on Thursday. Cust was designated for assignment on July 29.

Per major league baseball rules, the Mariners had 10 days to trade him, release him or send him outright to their minor league system.

The Mariners had to offer Cust on waivers, but he wasn’t picked up by any of the 29 other teams. That gave the Mariners the option to outright him to Triple-A Tacoma or release him. They chose the latter.

Cust, 32, hit .213 (48-for-225) with 15 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 23 RBI in 67 games for the Mariners this season.

ON T

The Mariners open a three-game series against the Angels today at Angels Stadium in Anaheim. Left-hander Jason Vargas (6-10, 4.19 ERA) will start for Seattle, while the Angels will go with ace Jered Weaver (14-5, 1.88 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Root Sports and 710-AM.

Ryan Divish: 253-597-8483 ryan.divish@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners

POSTED: 8:11 am PST January 19, 2011

UPDATED: 8:52 am PST January 19, 2011

POSTED: 8:11 am PST January 19, 2011

UPDATED: 8:52 am PST January 19, 2011