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Scioscia gets win No. 700 as Angels inch closer to AL West crown

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Vladimir Guerrero homered and reached base four times, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim moved one game closer to clinching the American League West with a 9-5 victory over Seattle.

Guerrero was brushed back and saw a pitch soar over his head, but he had the last laugh with a long home run to left-center field as part of a 3-for-4 night with two runs scored. He was a target of Seattle pitchers all night, brushed back on multiple occasions -- including the pitch before his two-run shot in the fourth -- before Jorge Campillo threw a pitch over his head in the sixth.

Home plate umpire Dana DeMuth immediately ejected both the pitcher and Mariners manager John McLaren and both benches cleared briefly.

Garret Anderson finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and Howie Kendrick drove in a pair for the Angels, who saw their magic number fall to one. One more win gives the Angels the division crown, while this win gave manager Mike Scioscia his 700th career victory.

The Angels lead Seattle by 9 1/2 games in the division race.

Jered Weaver (13-7) picked up the victory, yielding four runs on nine hits over five frames. Ryan Feierabend (1-5) took the loss after getting pounded for five runs on eight hits through three frames.

Raul Ibanez hit a two-run blast and Jose Guillen drove home two runs for the Mariners, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.

The Mariners took the brief 2-0 edge in the top of the third as Yuniesky Betancourt and Adrian Beltre both singled in front of Guillen's two-out, two- run double.

The Angels took control from there, beginning with a five-spot in the third. Reggie Willits doubled, Orlando Cabrera walked and Guerrero singled to load the bases with nobody out. Anderson drove home two of the runners with a double down the line in right then Kendrick's single scored both Guerrero and Anderson for a 4-3 game. Juan Rivera followed with a base hit to right, plating Kendrick with the inning's fifth run.

Then in the fourth, Cabrera singled before Campillo and Guerrero faced off for the first time. The second pitch of the at-bat was way inside and the outfielder took exception to the pitch, shouting out at the right-hander on the mound. He then swatted the next pitch into the mountains featured over the left-center field fence for a 7-2 game.

Seattle crept closer in the fifth on Ibanez's two-run homer before the Angels got the two runs back in the home half of the sixth.

Casey Kotchman walked and moved to second on Jeff Mathis' sacrifice bunt before Willits flied out. Cabrera slapped a triple past Guillen in front to score Kotchman and bring Guerrero to the plate.

Campillo sent a pitch way over Guerrero's head, and the pitcher was immediately tossed. Guerrero took a few steps toward the mound before DeMuth got in the way to settle everyone down. Benches cleared, but no skirmish took place.

Guerrero ended up walking and Anderson followed with an RBI single to center.

Ichiro Suzuki's run-scoring single in the ninth completed the scoring.

Game Notes

The Angels picked two Seattle runners off first base...All of Seattle's runs came with two outs...Seven of the Angels' nine runs scored with two outs...Guerrero hit his 26th home run of the campaign...The Angels have had little trouble with the Mariners this season, winning 12 of 16 meetings...The Angels won four straight games overall...Attendance 40,016.

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