Richards (8-5, 3.54 ERA) gave up seven hits but limited the damage to a pair of runs and is now 4-1 with a 1.76 ERA in seven career starts against Seattle. He struck out six and helped the Angels move back above .500 at 38-37.
ANAHEIM -- Fernando Rodney got to shoot his arrow on Friday night, delivering a scoreless ninth inning in the Mariners' 3-1 victory over the Angels in his first save situation since losing the closer's job 24 days earlier.
But the man who led the Majors with 45 saves last season and is second to Craig Kimbrel for the most saves in the big leagues since 2012 hasn't won back the role yet, as manager Lloyd McClendon went to right-hander Carson Smith in the eighth inning Friday strictly because he wanted the big rookie facing Angels standouts Mike Trout and Albert Pujols.