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Angels try to get leg up in home-field race

Sep 13, 2008 - 10:14 AM Seattle (57-89) at LA Angels (90-57), 9:05pm EDT

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim continue their series with the Seattle Mariners on Saturday - and both teams are fighting for only one thing.

For the Angels, they've clinched the division and closer Francisco Rodriguez has tied the single-season saves record. All that's left is the race for home-field advantage in the American League playoffs - and currently, the Angels have the upper hand there, too. They hold a 1 1/2-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays.

For the Mariners, all they can do is try to stay out of baseball's cellar. They've had one of the worst records all season, and are in a dogfight with the Washington Nationals (56-91) and San Diego Padres (57-91) to avoid the ignominious honor.

If the Angels intend to remain ahead of the Rays, they'll need another effort from starter Jon Garland (13-8, 4.52 ERA) like his last one. In a 12-8 victory over the New York Yankees on September 8, he allowed one run and six hits over seven strong innings. It was one of the best efforts this year from the righthander, who has been somewhat of a disappointment since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox in the offseason.

Seattle starter Ryan Feierabend (1-2, 5.53) also had his way with the Yankees in his most recent outing, holding the once-feared New York offense to two runs and seven hits in seven innings of a 5-2 Mariner win. The 23-year-old lefthander hasn't had the same success against the Angels in his brief career, going 0-2 with an 8.38 ERA in two starts.

In Friday's game between the two clubs, Mike Napoli hit a walk-off, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Angels to a 5-3 victory as they improved to 9-4 against the Mariners this season.