ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Behind Taijuan Walker's first career shutout and three homers, the Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-0 for their season-high seventh consecutive win Tuesday.

Walker (6-10) was sensational, allowing just three hits and striking out 11 to match a career high in winning his second straight start. He didn't issue a walk.

The Angels' first hit came when Kole Calhoun found a hole on the right side, through the Mariners' shift, for a clean single to lead off the seventh. The Angels' first baserunner came in the sixth when Kaleb Cowart reached on shortstop Ketel Marte's two-out throwing error.

"I was getting nervous, my stomach was tightening up and my legs were heavy," Walker said about flirting with a no-hitter. "It felt like the longest six innings of my life."

Despite prevailing for the eighth time in nine games, the Mariners (77-68) couldn't gain ground in the AL wild-card race, remaining 2 1/2 games behind. The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays, both 79-65, currently hold the two wild-card spots.

Seattle flexed its muscles, with Nelson Cruz notching three hits, and Cruz, Norichika Aoki and Seth Smith hitting home runs. Smith's was the biggest blow, a grand slam in the sixth inning that turned the game into a rout.

Many thought Walker's path this year would lead to being Seattle's No. 2 starter behind ace Felix Hernandez. However, Walker struggled with command issues and was hurt. He reached rock bottom when last facing the Angels on Sept. 3; he was charged with six runs (five earned) while recording only two outs en route to losing his fourth consecutive start.

"It was the difference between night and day," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We saw a lot more off-speed pitches this time."

Walker was far from that struggling pitcher on Tuesday as he toyed with the Angels.

"It was fun," he said. "We had a good game plan, and (catcher Mike Zunino) called a good game. We mixed our pitches and stayed aggressive with my fastball."

Alex Meyer, who was making his second start for the Angels, didn't fare nearly as well. Meyer (0-3) was gone after four innings, having surrendered four runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Walker, utilizing a fastball in the upper-90s, was dominant in the game's early stages as he retired the first 15 batters and had a stretch of five straight strikeouts.

The right-hander wound up striking out Mike Trout three times. Coming into the game, Trout was hitting .818 (9-for-11) with two home runs against Walker.

"He was painting it," Trout said. "He had good command of four or five pitches, he was throwing 96 (mph) and he could bounce his curve in the dirt whenever he wanted. He was just locating everything."

The Mariners struck quickly with two first-inning runs.

Aoki opened with a sharp single and scored on Cruz's two-run homer, his team-high 36th homer of the season. Cruz crushed Meyer's 93 mph fastball deep into the left field seats.

Seattle extended its lead to 4-0 in the second as the long ball bit Meyer once again. This time Aoki did the honors with a solo blast. Prior to Aoki's third homer of the year, Marte hit a run-scoring fly ball to bring in Leonys Martin, who reached on a single.

Meyer got through the third inning without allowing a run for his first scoreless frame in the game. However, it required a two-out leaping catch by Trout in center as he robbed Zunino of an extra-base hit with Cruz aboard on a walk.

"That's Mike," Scioscia said. "He had a bead on it all the way, and he timed his jump perfectly. That ball was hit hard."

It wasn't difficult for Mariners manager Scott Servais to sum up the game.

"It starts with Taijuan Walker and ends with Taijuan Walker," he said. "It goes to show what kind of athlete he is and what kind of a special talent he is. Tonight was really fun to watch."

NOTES: Seattle 1B Daniel Vogelbach got his first start in the majors and went 1-for-4. ... Mariners 1B Adam Lind (sprained finger) is hoping to be available for the weekend series against the Houston Astros. ... LHP Wade LeBlanc, who started eight games for the Mariners before ending the season in Triple-A, was traded from Seattle to the Pittsburgh Pirates. ... Angels SS Andrelton Simmons (bruised thumb) remains out after tests revealed no serious damage. ... Los Angeles C Geovany Soto (sore knee) was close to being activated, but he sprained an ankle Monday. ... Angels LHP Tyler Skaggs (strained forearm) was scratched from Wednesday's start. Seattle RHP Hisashi Iwakuma will face Los Angeles RHP Jhoulys Chacin.