Angels sweep Mariners

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Dan Haren held Seattle to three singles over seven innings, Mike Napoli homered and the Angels scored another run on a catcher’s interference call with the bases loaded in a 3-0 victory over the Mariners on Sunday.

The Angels, who are in third place in the A.L. West after winning three straight division titles, completed a three-game sweep and won the season series 14-5. It’s the fifth straight year in which they reached double digits in victories against the Mariners, the longest such streak in the franchise’s 50-year history.

Haren (3-4) struck out six, walked three and did not allow a hit after Russell Branyan’s leadoff single in the fourth. Seattle had only three baserunners after that against the left-hander, two on walks and another on a throwing error by Napoli when he fielded Franklin Gutierrez’s grounder to first base and tried to get a force at second on Branyan.

Any combination of five Los Angeles wins and/or Seattle losses would mathematically clinch the Mariners’ second straight last-place finish and sixth in eight seasons. They are 13-18 since Daren Brown took over as manager after the firing of Don Wakamatsu on Aug. 9.

Rookie Jordan Walden pitched the eighth inning and Fernando Rodney got three outs for his 10th save in 15 chances.

Jason Vargas (9-10) lost his fifth straight start, allowing two runs – one earned – and seven hits over seven innings with four strikeouts.

The Mariners return to Safeco Field tonight against the Boston Red Sox trying to snap a streak of 15 straight home games with three runs or fewer.