Angels wrap it up

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Shades of 2002.

With John Lackey starting, Francisco Rodriguez closing and fans waving those rally monkeys, the Los Angeles Angels clinched their third A.L. West title in four years Sunday, beating the Seattle Mariners 7-4.

“It’s a lot of fun today, but it’s just the beginning,” said owner Arte Moreno, champagne dripping from the championship cap he wore in the clubhouse.

After losing two in a row to the Mariners, manager Mike Scioscia’s team clinched in its final home game of the regular season.

Lackey (18-9) again came up big in a big game.

“I take a little pride in that sort of thing,” he said after holding the Mariners to two runs through seven innings. “I enjoy getting the opportunity in big games and I want to make the most of it.”

Lackey pitched the wild-card clincher in 2002, then won the final game of the World Series against San Francisco, the first rookie to win Game 7 in the World Series since 1909.

Rodriguez was the setup man that year and now is the team’s closer. He earned his 38th save in 43 chances with a 1-2-3 ninth against the Mariners.

Casey Kotchman and Macier Izturis homered in the second inning to put the Angels ahead to stay.

Seattle manager John McLaren complimented the Angels.

“That’s where you want to be – right in the middle of the field jumping on each other,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about. We want that day to come soon for us.”

Los Angeles has one goal remaining this week – earning home-field advantage throughout the A.L. playoffs by finishing with the league’s best record. They’re currently bunched near the top with the Indians, Red Sox and New York Yankees.

Lackey allowed seven hits and struck out seven as he beat Seattle for the fourth time in as many decisions this year. He hadn’t allowed a run all season against them until Jose Lopez’s RBI single in the fifth.

Ben Broussard added an RBI double in the sixth to pull the Mariners with 3-2, but a sacrifice fly by Figgins and an RBI single by Orlando Cabrera in the bottom half built the lead back. Howie Kendrick’s RBI single and another sacrifice fly by Figgins made it 7-2 in the seventh.

The Mariners scored twice in the eighth inning after they loaded the bases against Shields. Justin Speier relieved and threw consecutive wild pitches that allowed two runners to come home.

Seattle’s Jeff Weaver (7-13) gave up five runs and five hits.