Angels' Trout hopes playing Seattle sparks him

Mike Trout always seems to like hitting in Seattle.

In 71 career games at T-Mobile Park (formerly known as Safeco Field), he's hit .328 with 20 home runs and 52 RBIs, the latter two totals his highest at a visiting stadium.

Barring a setback to his injured right foot, he'll get another chance Thursday when the Los Angeles Angels open a four-game series against the host Mariners.

Trout missed Wednesday's game at Oakland to rest the foot.

"I don't expect him to be (out) more than a day, but you never know," Angels manager Brad Ausmus said.

Trout, a two-time American League MVP and a seven-time All-Star, suffered the injury Tuesday when fouling a pitch off his foot in the fourth inning. He stayed in the game and drew a ninth-inning walk that sparked the Angels' winning rally.

X-rays of Trout's foot revealed no fracture. According to MLB.com, he underwent electronic stimulation treatments at his locker before Wednesday's game.

"I expected it to be sore," Trout told MLB.com. "It was throbbing pretty good (Tuesday night). I woke up and it was really sore."

Trout hopes a trip to the Pacific Northwest will help him snap out of a slump. He's hitting .179 in his past eight games.

"It seems like I go through little stretches here and there, it seems like every year," he told MLB.com. "The last few games, obviously the results aren't there but I do feel good up there. ... Obviously, you try to get into a groove with things."

Trout and the Angels are scheduled to face Mariners rookie left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (3-2, 3.82 ERA) for the second time. Kikuchi earned his first major league victory when he beat the Angels 6-5 on April 20 in Anaheim despite allowing four runs on 10 hits in five innings. Trout was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in that game.

The Angels, who used six pitchers in a 12-7 victory in 11 innings at Oakland on Wednesday afternoon, plan to use an opener before handing the ball to right-hander Felix Pena (2-1, 3.22 ERA). Pena is 0-1 with a 16.88 ERA in two career starts against the Mariners. He didn't get a decision in a 5-3 loss to Seattle on April 19, allowing three runs on two hits -- home runs by Jay Bruce and Daniel Vogelbach -- in five innings.

The Mariners have lost 11 of their past 13 games, including an 8-7 defeat Wednesday to visiting Texas.

Seattle will be without shortstop J.P. Crawford, who was placed on the 10-day injured list after spraining his left ankle in Tuesday's game when trying to scramble back to third base while teammate Mallex Smith was caught in a rundown.

Crawford, acquired in an offseason trade that sent Jean Segura to Philadelphia, started the season at Triple-A Tacoma before being called up earlier this month. In 17 games with the Mariners, he hit .279 with one home run and five RBIs.

Crawford was on crutches with his left foot in a boot Wednesday, but X-rays showed no ligament tears.

"We're lucky it's not worse," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "It's disappointing because he's been playing so good. But I talked to him after the game (Tuesday night) and stuff happens. He didn't look down or anything."

Tim Beckham, who started the season at shortstop while Crawford was refining his game in the minors, returned to the starting lineup Wednesday and hit a two-run homer.

--Field Level Media