Maurer struggles again

Maurer lasted just four innings in the Seattle Mariners’ 7-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.

Maurer (1-4) labored to keep the game close early, but Erick Aybar tagged him for a two-out, three-run home run in the fourth to give the Angels a 5-0 lead.

He allowed three runs on four hits, equaled a career-high six strikeouts and did not walk a batter for the first time in five career starts.

James Jones dropped a double in front of a diving Mike Trout in center field to lead off the fourth for Seattle’s first hit.

Los Angeles took a quick lead in the first when Trout’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Kole Calhoun.

Trout drove in another run in the sixth with a sharp single up the middle, but the Angels, leading 6-2, were unable to blow the game open, as Seattle reliever Dominic Leone got two quick outs to leave a pair of runners stranded.

Cron each had three hits for the Angels, who had 15 hits, the fourth time in a week the club has had at least 11 hits in a game and its most in a game since having 16 against the Yankees on April 25.

RHP Taijuan Walker, on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder impingement, said he felt good after his first rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday and expects to throw a bullpen on Friday.