SEATTLE - Jeff Mathis hit a two-run homer to lead a 16-hit attack, and Joe Saunders had another strong start to help the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 10-5 on Sunday and avoid a series sweep.

AP

Mariners starting pitcher Cha Seung Baek

The Mariners, who won the first two games 8-5 and 8-3, scratched starting pitcher Erik Bedard before the game because of inflammation in his right hip. The Mariners expect to find out in a throwing session Monday whether Bedard can return to the mound next week. The injury isn't expected to be serious.

Saunders (2-0) pitched 5 1-3 innings in his third straight solid start. He gave up two runs on six hits with three walks and one strikeout. Saunders pitched eight innings in his first two starts this season and gave up only one earned run.

Right-hander Cha Seung Baek (0-1) made his first start of the season in place of Bedard. Baek allowed seven hits and four runs in 4 1-3 innings with two walks and two strikeouts. Baek pitched one inning of relief in his only other appearance this season.

The Angels scored twice in the third and fifth and three each in the sixth and seventh.

Mathis, Howie Kendrick and Casey Kotchman had three hits apiece. Mathis hit a two-run homer in the seventh. Kendrick left the game with a strained left hamstring running out his second double of the game in the seventh.

Kotchman was 8-for-12 in the series after a 3-for-23 start to the season.

Vladimir Guerrero had a two-run double in the third and Gary Matthews Jr. added a two-run single in the sixth off Seattle reliever Eric O'Flaherty, who gave up six runs on eight hits.

Jose Vidro, Jose Lopez and Raul Ibanez each had two hits to lead Seattle. Ibanez had a two-run double and three RBIs. The Mariners had loaded the bases in the second when Jamie Burke hit into an inning-ending double play.

Matthews Jr., who had a fielding error on Saturday, ran in for a diving catch to take a hit away from Mike Morse in the fourth with two outs and a runner on first.

Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth in relief for the Angels in his first appearance since he sprained his right ankle April 6.