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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Even if the Seattle Mariners lose their final regular-season game, they are assured at least a one-game showdown for a berth in the playoffs.
They don't intend to let that happen.
|  | | Alex Rodriguez celebrates his 40th home run as he rounds the bases. |
Alex Rodriguez broke out of his slump with a pair of homers and
seven RBI on Saturday as the Mariners pounded Anaheim 21-9 -- the
most runs ever against the Angels -- to assure Seattle at least a
tie for the AL wild card spot.
"Our mission is still to win tomorrow and get in the playoffs after 162 games," Rodriguez said. "We have a chance to control our own destiny and that's what we plan to do."
John Olerud, who had four hits and four RBI in the rout, said, "We don't want a one-game playoff. We want to win the final game
of the season."
The Mariners go into the regular-season finale a half-game back
of Oakland in the AL West race, and one game in front of the
Cleveland Indians for the last wild card.
That raises the possibility of Seattle playing host to a one-game showdown on Monday or Tuesday against Cleveland for the wild card, or on Tuesday against the Athletics for the West title. If they play Monday, the game would be televised on ESPN at 5 p.m.
Seattle manager Lou Piniella, asked about the various possibilities, finally shook his head and said, "I don't want to hear all the scenarios. All we have to do is win tomorrow."
Rodriguez, who had only three hits in his previous 29 at-bats, hit a two-run homer in the first inning, singled home a run in the fourth, then added three-run shot -- his 40th -- in the sixth. He capped his day and equaled his career high of seven RBI with a
sacrifice fly in the ninth.
"I felt pretty good yesterday, although the results weren't there," said Rodriguez, who was 0-for-3 in Seattle's 9-3 loss to the Angels on Friday. "Today was just a better result day, that's for sure.
"My confidence built as the day went on and hopefully it'll
carry over to tomorrow."
The most runs previously scored against the Angels was 20, by Milwaukee on July 8, 1990.
"They got healthy real quick," Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said. "They beat us up and kicked us in every aspect. They came out pounding the ball.
"We'll be coming back tomorrow. Everyone will be fresh. We'll
reload and get back after them."
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The playoff situation
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With the Indians, Mariners and A's all winning Saturday, here are Sunday's
scenarios:
Current records:
Oakland, 90-70
Seattle, 90-71
Cleveland, 89-72
If Cleveland loses, Indians are eliminated. Seattle and Oakland are in.
Seattle wins AL West with a win on Sunday and Oakland losses on Sunday and
Monday.
If Cleveland wins, Seattle wins and Oakland loses Sunday and Monday,
Seattle is AL West champion and there is wild-card tiebreaker game Tuesday
in Oakland.
If Cleveland wins, Seattle wins and Oakland wins Sunday or
Monday, Indians are eliminated. Oakland wins AL West and Seattle is the wild
card.
If Cleveland wins, Seattle loses and Oakland wins Sunday, Oakland is AL
West champion and there is a wild-card tiebreaker game Monday in Seattle.
If Cleveland wins, Seattle loses and Oakland loses Sunday and
Monday, Cleveland is the wild card and there is an AL West tiebreaker game
Tuesday in Seattle.
Sunday's probable pitchers:
Tor. (Wells 20-7) at Cle. (Woodard (2-3)
Tex. (Glynn 5-6) at Oak. (Hudson 19-6)
Sea. (Sele 17-10) at Ana. (Schoeneweis 7-10)
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Seattle's John Halama (14-9) gave up five runs on five hits -- including Troy Glaus' league-leading 47th homer -- in 5 2/3 innings.
The Angels' Tim Belcher (4-5) allowed four runs on five hits and
four walks in 2 2/3 innings.
After homering in the first, Rodriguez extended the Mariners'
lead to 6-2 in the fourth when he singled in a run. He then made it
9-2 with his 40th homer in the sixth, one of three Seattle home
runs in the inning off Kent Mercker.
Edgar Martinez hit Mercker's next pitch into the left-field
pavilion for his 37th homer, and one out later, Jay Buhner hit his
26th.
David Bell hit the Mariners' fifth homer of the game, his 10th,
leading off the ninth.
After the Mariners scored five times in the sixth to open an
11-2 cushion, Anaheim scored four unearned runs in the bottom of
the inning following third baseman Bell's error on a grounder by
Tim Salmon.
But Seattle built the lead back with five runs in the seventh,
including Joe Oliver's three-run triple.
Halama and the Mariners got a brief scare in the first inning
when Darin Erstad lined the ball off the Seattle left-hander's right knee for a single. Halama fell to the ground, grabbing his
knee and remained on the ground for several minutes.
But, after being checked by the team trainer and limping around
for a few moments, Halama threw several warmup pitches and
continued, getting Glaus to hit into a double play and Salmon to
ground out to end the inning.
Ron Gant hit a two-run homer in the Angels' ninth.
Game notes
Rodriguez's 131 RBI are seven more than his previous
career high. ... The 145 RBI by Seattle's
Martinez this year are the most ever by a player 37 or older, with
Babe Ruth second with 137 in 1932. ... Erstad's two hits gave him
239 on the season, tying him for 14th on the major league's
all-time single-season list with Rod Carew.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Seattle Clubhouse
Anaheim Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 6
Toronto 5
Seattle 21
Anaheim 9
Oakland 23
Texas 2
Boston 4
Tampa Bay 2
Detroit 6
Minnesota 5
Baltimore 9
NY Yankees 1
Chi. White Sox 9
Kansas City 1
NY Mets 4
Montreal 2
Cincinnati 8
St. Louis 4
Florida 11
Philadelphia 5
Pittsburgh 4
Chicago Cubs 2
Atlanta 5
Colorado 2
Houston 7
Milwaukee 6
Arizona 5
San Francisco 1
Los Angeles 10
San Diego 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Alex Rodriguez says Seattle still has one more win to get.
wav: 115 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Jay Buhner knows his team will be ready to play on Sunday.
wav: 113 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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