ANAHEIM, Calif. (Interstat) — On a cool Saturday evening at Angel Stadium, a single swing in the first inning proved to be the entirety of the offense as the Los Angeles Angels edged the Seattle Mariners 1-0 in a brisk pitchers’ duel that defied pregame expectations.

A crowd of 44,084 watched the Angels even their record at 4-5, matching the Mariners, who also fell to 4-5. The game, which lasted just 2 hours and 28 minutes, stood in stark contrast to the statistical projections, which heavily favored Seattle and predicted a higher-scoring affair.

The decisive moment came immediately. After Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz navigated a two-hit, two-on jam in the top of the first by striking out Randy Arozarena, leadoff hitter Zach Neto stepped in against Seattle’s Emerson Hancock to lead off the bottom half. Neto connected on Hancock’s offering, sending a fly ball to left-center field that cleared the fence for a solo home run, his third of the season.

That lone run would hold up for the remainder of the contest, as both pitching staffs dominated. The Angels managed seven hits but squandered several opportunities to extend their lead. In the very first inning, following Neto’s homer, Nolan Schanuel doubled and Jorge Soler singled to put runners on the corners with one out. Hancock escaped further damage by striking out Yoán Moncada and, after a pitch, catching Schanuel in a rundown between third and home on a comebacker, executed by catcher Cal Raleigh.

The Mariners, held to five hits, threatened in the third inning. With one out, Leo Rivas walked and Julio Rodríguez singled, moving Rivas to third. After a walk to Josh Naylor loaded the bases with two outs, Kochanowicz induced a ground ball force out from Arozarena to end the inning, preserving the 1-0 lead.

Seattle’s best late chance came in the seventh. J.P. Crawford walked and, after a successful challenge turned a pitch into a hit-by-pitch for Cole Young, the Mariners had two on with nobody out against reliever Chase Silseth. The Angels’ right-hander responded emphatically, striking out Leo Rivas and Luke Raley before getting Raleigh to ground out to second, extinguishing the threat.

The Angels bullpen sealed the victory. Drew Pomeranz recorded a key out in the seventh, and closer Jordan Romano worked a perfect ninth, striking out Leo Rivas swinging to end the game and earn his third save.

Kochanowicz was credited with the win, improving to 1-0 after a stellar outing. He worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and no runs while striking out seven. Hancock, the hard-luck loser for Seattle, fell to 1-1. He pitched six strong innings, giving up one run on six hits.

The most important part of the game was undoubtedly the Mariners’ failure to capitalize with the bases loaded in the third inning. After Neto’s early homer provided the Angels’ only run, Seattle’s offense, which had shown life with two hits and a walk in the frame, had a prime opportunity to answer immediately and shift momentum. With the bases loaded and two outs, Randy Arozarena, a key run producer, represented the go-ahead run. Kochanowicz, however, remained poised, forcing Arozarena to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the threat. That moment set the tone for the rest of the game; the Mariners never again advanced a runner past second base, and the Angels’ pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts, repeatedly shutting down any semblance of a rally.

The result leveled the three-game series at one win apiece, setting up a rubber match on Sunday. Both teams will look to break the .500 mark before Seattle embarks on a road trip to Texas and the Angels prepare to host the Atlanta Braves.