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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- To Lou Piniella, it's very simple.
|  | | Adam Kennedy slides home safely in the sixth inning with the Angels' final run. |
"We're down to a two-game season. We've run out of mulligans.
We've got to go out and win the next two games," the Seattle
manager said Friday night after Anaheim beat the Mariners 9-3 to
drop them out of the AL West lead.
The Mariners fell a half-game behind Oakland, which beat Texas 7-5, for the division lead. Seattle leads Cleveland by one game in the wild card race.
The Mariners would be home for a one-game playoff if they end up
tied with Oakland for either the AL West title or a wild card spot.
"Our objective was to win the division, but the thing we really wanted more than anything was to get into the playoffs," Piniella said. "We're still confident we can come out the last two days and get the job done."
Seattle's John Halama (13-9) faces the Angels' Tim Belcher (4-4)
on Saturday, then All-Star Aaron Sele (17-10) goes against Anaheim's Scott Schoenweis (7-10) on Sunday.
"We've got the right people going the next two days and our
bullpen is rested," Piniella said.
Seattle's Alex Rodriguez, who went 0-for-3 in the loss and has just three hits in his last 29 at-bats, said, "It's time to put up
or shut up."
"I can't concern myself with trying to figure this out. I've
just got to swing the bat, and I feel confident I can do that, just
like I'm confident that my teammates can come out and win
tomorrow," Rodriguez said.
Said Piniella: "Alex has been struggling, but he's been there for us all year. Just let him get hot for the next couple of games."
Troy Glaus hit his league-leading 46th home run, a three-run
shot, and Bengie Molina also hit a three-run homer for the Angels.
The Angels' Darin Erstad became the first leadoff hitter in major league history with 100 RBI in a year when he had a
sacrifice fly in the sixth. Glaus reached 100 RBI with his
three-run homer.
Garret Anderson added a solo shot as the Angels battered Paul
Abbott (9-7) for eight runs on eight hits and two walks in five
innings.
Rookie Ramon Ortiz (8-6) held Seattle to three runs -- one earned -- on four hits and four walks during his six innings.
Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said the Angels weren't thinking
about being the spoilers.
"I'm not worried about the Seattle Mariners or the Oakland
Athletics and where they're going," he said. "I'm worried about
the Anaheim Angels. We're going to try to win every game, and where
the other teams fall in place, they fall in place.
"I didn't approach this series as, 'OK, let's knock a club out of the playoffs."'
He said the Mariners didn't seem tight, adding, "They're a talented club. They've been through this before and they've been down to the wire before."
Molina's 14th homer put Anaheim up 7-3 in the third. Anderson's
shot, his 35th, gave Anaheim a five-run pad in the fifth.
Glaus hit his homer during a four-run first inning after his
throwing error allowed Seattle to score twice in the top of the
inning.
Cameron's 19th homer, a solo shot in the third, provided
Seattle's third run.
Game notes
Erstad received the Gene Autry Award as the Angels' MVP
prior to the game. ... Seattle added outfielder Anthony Sanders, a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. team in Sydney, from Triple-A Tacoma. ... With Erstad and Glaus both reaching 100 RBI, the Angels have four players with 100 or more for the first time in the club's 40-year history. Vaughn has 117 and Anderson 114. ... The Angels open the 2001 season on the road for the first time since 1994. They begin with two games at Boston, then are at New York against the Yankees for a four-game set before they play at Anaheim on April 7 against the White Sox. ... Vaughn was named Anaheim's finalist for the 2000 Roberto Clemente Award.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Seattle Clubhouse
Anaheim Clubhouse
RECAPS
Baltimore 13
NY Yankees 2
Cleveland 8
Toronto 4
Detroit 1
Minnesota 0
Tampa Bay 8
Boston 6
Chi. White Sox 6
Kansas City 4
Anaheim 9
Seattle 3
Oakland 7
Texas 5
Florida 7
Philadelphia 1
Pittsburgh 8
Chicago Cubs 4
NY Mets 11
Montreal 2
Colorado 4
Atlanta 2
Milwaukee 13
Houston 3
Cincinnati 8
St. Louis 1
San Francisco 4
Arizona 3
Los Angeles 3
San Diego 0
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Lou Piniella isn't enjoying his team's recent hard times.
wav: 107 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Alex Rodriguez feels the Mariners control their own destiny.
wav: 111 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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