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Vargas, offense back Angels over Mariners

Jun 18, 2013 - 5:47 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Jason Vargas shut down his former team and was backed by 21 hits from his offense, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pounded the Seattle Mariners, 11-3, in the opener of a four-game series.

Vargas (6-4) struck out nine and only walked one while giving up two runs on four hits to pick up a victory made easy by the offensive onslaught.

"I was able to locate my fastball, and my secondary stuff was working. ... And the guys were able to put a lot of runs up," Vargas said.

Albert Pujols, who struck out with the bases loaded to end Sunday's game against the Yankees, bounced back with four hits, including an RBI double during a seven-run sixth inning.

Alberto Callaspo went 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Josh Hamilton added a two-run homer to help the Angels improve to 3-1 on their 10- game homestand.

Aaron Harang (3-7) continued his Jekyll and Hyde season, as he lasted just five innings and allowed four runs on 12 hits just six days after recording his second shutout of the year.

Nick Franklin provided a two-run homer in Seattle's second straight setback.

Hamilton scored on Howie Kendrick's two-out double down the left-field line in the first inning then followed Mike Trout's sacrifice fly in the second with a homer to straightaway center.

The blast hit off the glove of a leaping Michael Saunders and landed over the fence to give the Angels a 4-0 cushion.

Franklin cut the deficit in half with a two-run homer to left field in the third inning, but the Angels broke the game open with a seven-spot in the sixth -- two coming on a throwing error by Franklin.

The Angels sent 12 to the plate against Carter Capps and Charlie Furbush, the latter giving up three consecutive run-scoring singles to Erick Aybar, Callaspo and Chris Iannetta.

"They made their breaks tonight and took advantage of their speed," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said.

Kendrys Morales' RBI groundout in the away eighth accounted for the final margin.

Game Notes

Vargas spent the 2009-12 seasons with the Mariners ... Harang came in 0-3 with an 8.02 ERA in five career starts against the Angels ... Peter Bourjos had three hits and two runs scored in the win ... Trout scored his 200th career run in the seventh.