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Angels set to lock up AL West vs. Mariners

Sep 21, 2007 - 2:39 PM Seattle (81-71) at LA Angels (91-62) 10:05 pm EDT

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will look to lock up the American League West Division title when they face the Seattle Mariners in the second game of a four-game series on Friday.

The Angels took the series opener by a 9-5 score on Friday, lowering their magic number for the division to one. The meaningful victory did take a back seat to the fireworks between the teams, as Angels starter Jeff Weaver hit catcher Kenji Johjima with a pitch in the fourth, and Mariners reliever Jorge Campillo retaliated by throwing up-and-in to Jeff Mathis and twice to Vladimir Guerrero.

Campillo was ejected after throwing at Guerrero the second time, and the benches cleared briefly, leading to some pushing and shoving.

It may have been a case of frustrations boiling over, as the Mariners, who were within one game of the division lead on August 24, have won just eight of their last 26 games to fall to the brink of elimination.

Veteran Jarrod Washburn (9-15, 4.53 ERA) will try to help Seattle stave off elimination for at least one more day when he takes the mound Friday. The lefthander is just 1-8 over his last nine outings with a 5.61 ERA.

The Angels will counter with rookie Joe Saunders (8-3, 3.82). The 26-year-old lefthander shut down the Mariners in his lone start against the division rival, holding them to seven hits over six scoreless frames on April 20.