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Angels clinch tie for division in tense battle with Mariners

Sep 21, 2007 - 6:27 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- No matter how many pitches went up and in, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim would not stop steamrolling their way toward the American League West Division title.

Vladimir Guerrero homered and Garret Anderson drove in three runs to lead the Angels to a 9-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.

Howie Kendrick had three hits and two RBI for Anaheim, which clinched at least a share of the AL West with the win.

"We put ourselves in a good position to win and just have to stay focused and come out here tomorrow and get a win," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

The Mariners jumped on top in the third, when former Angel Jose Guillen doubled in a pair of runs off starter Jered Weaver (13-7).

"Good to get those runs early, but we made some baserunning mistakes in the game, and that just can't happen against a good team like the Angels," Mariners manager John McLaren said.

After Seattle starter Ryan Feierabend (1-5) struck out Jeff Mathis leading off the bottom of the third, Reggie Willits doubled to right and Orlando Cabrera walked. Guerrero followed with a single to right, loading the bases for Anderson, who doubled to tie the game at 2-2.

"Anderson, since the All-Star break, has been their best hitter," Seattle's Adrian Beltre said. "They have a lineup that can do it all."

Kendrick singled two batters later to give Anaheim a 4-2 lead, and Juan Rivera completed the five-run inning by driving in Kendrick with a base hit.

"I just left my changeup up in the zone and they hit me," Feierabend said. "I felt good early on but then just couldn't make a pitch."

Tempers flared in the next inning as Weaver, pitching with a three-run lead, hit Seattle catcher Kenji Johjima in the back with two outs.

"I think it was the second guy I hit all year, and I was just trying to get quick outs," Weaver said. "I had no reason to hit Johjima, and the whole situation was unnecessary."

Seattle responded in the next inning, as reliever Jorge Campillo threw a pitch near the head of Mathis - the Angels' catcher - prompting plate umpire Dana Demuth to warn both benches. Mathis eventually struck out, and Guerrero came to the plate two batters later with a runner on first.

Campillo went up-and-in on Guerrero, eliciting a stare and some harsh words from many on Anaheim. Guerrero took Campillo's next pitch deep over the center field wall for a two-run blast, extending the Angels' lead to 7-2.

"If I'm going to get hit, that's fine, just not at my head or hit my catcher, too," Guerrero said through an interpreter. "It was a way to answer back at (Campillo) and it felt good for it to go out of the ballpark."

Raul Ibanez brought the Mariners back to within 7-4 in the fifth with a two-run homer and Guillen followed with a single before being picked off first by Weaver.

"I didn't have my best stuff tonight, but I got runs to work with, and that allows me to challenge guys and get outs," Weaver said.

That frame ended the night for Weaver, who was charged with four runs and nine hits in five innings while striking out one without a walk. The second-year righthander has won five of his last six starts.

After Cabrera tripled in a run in the sixth, Campillo again threw at Guerrero's head, this time drawing an ejection from Demuth and causing both benches to empty.

"If that guy's not suspended for a month, then something's wrong," Scioscia said. "Those were intentional, no question. What that guy did was flagrant, and if it came from the bench, then that's just wrong."

"Just have to forget what happened tonight and take the same approach tomorrow and win the game," Guerrero said.

The frustration likely is getting to the Mariners, who were within one game of the division lead on August 24 but have won just eight of 26 since and are on the verge of elimination.

Anaheim's magic number sits at one with 10 games to play. The victory moved the Angels (91-62) one-half game ahead of idle Cleveland (90-62) for the best record in baseball.