Los Angeles Angels clinch American League West title with win

After a four-year hiatus, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are American League West champs.

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Left-hander C.J. Wilson struck out seven, limiting the Seattle Mariners to just one hit over seven scoreless innings and a five-run seventh inning propelled the Angels to a 5-0 win on Wednesday night. Following the win, which put the team’s magic number to clinch the division at one, Wilson and his teammates then played the waiting game, watching the Oakland Athletics’ game against the Texas Rangers. The Oakland bullpen imploded in the late innings and an hour or so after the Angels’ win, the celebration could begin.

With one out in the seventh, Howie Kendrick singled to right against Seattle starter James Paxton (6-3, 2.06 ERA). Offseason acquisition David Freese then followed, taking a 1-0 fastball from the left-hander and punching it into right field. The ball short-hopped the Mariners right-fielder Chris Denorfia, rolling all the way to the wall and allowing Kendrick to race around to break the scoreless tie, with Freese advancing to third.

After an intentional walk to Erick Aybar and a Chris Iannetta strikeout, Los Angeles (95-57) had runners on the corners with two outs. C.J. Cron then delivered the deciding blow – a three-run shot into the rocks in center field off Seattle reliever Danny Farquhar, extending the Angels’ lead to 4-0. Later in the inning, Kole Calhoun doubled, plating the fifth – and final – run of the inning, sending the home faithful into a frenzy.

Wilson (13-9, 4.42 ERA) was completely dominant against Seattle (81-70), a playoff-hopeful team that now enters play Thursday two games back of Kansas City and Oakland for a Wild Card spot in the American League. Right-handed sidearm pitcher Joe Smith combined with Huston Street to close out the final two frames for the Angels, putting the team on the brink of a postseason berth.

The Mariners managed just one hit on the night, striking out ten times. The Angels didn’t fare much better, striking out 11 times and tallying just six hits, but four of those six knocks came as part of that five-run seventh inning, which essentially completed a second half push in which the club was on an absolute tear.

According to MLB.com, the Angels picked up 15 games in the division race from Aug. 10 to Sept. 12, and since Aug. 20, the club has won 20 of 27 contests en route to hurdling the division favorite Athletics in the standings. The two teams could, theoretically, meet in the postseason should Oakland hold one of the Wild Card spots and win the first-round play-in game against the league’s other Wild Card winner.

The Angels will have home-field advantage in the American League Division Series, and as standings currently sit, would play either Oakland or Kansas City in the best-of-five first round series.

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