ANGELS 2, MARINERS 1: RHP Ervin Santana retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced in eight dominant innings Monday. Santana allowed only one run on five hits while walking none and striking out nine. The Angels moved a step closer to their first 100-win season with the victory and reduced their magic number to clinch the best record in the American League to four over the Tampa Bay Rays and one over the Boston Red Sox.
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--LHP Joe Saunders had still not passed the kidney stone that has been bothering him since Friday night, so he visited a local doctor in Seattle Monday. Saunders went to the hospital with abdominal pain on Friday night and was told the stone would probably pass within 48 hours. But he was still feeling discomfort as of Monday afternoon.
--2B Howie Kendrick was back in the lineup Monday for the first time since he strained his left hamstring on August 27. Like Angels manager Mike Scioscia did for SS Erick Aybar when he returned from his own hamstring injury last week, Kendrick will be eased back into the lineup. He played only three innings Monday, going hitless in two at-bats and handling two chances in the field. Kendrick will probably get Tuesday off.
--OF Juan Rivera was back in the lineup Monday after missing seven games with a sore right hip flexor. Rivera went hitless in three at-bats as the DH against the Mariners and Scioscia said he would get some playing time in the outfield this week to make sure he is ready for the playoffs.
--OF Vladimir Guerrero hit his 25th home run of the season in the fourth inning Monday. Among active players, only Guerrero and Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez have hit 25 or more home runs in each of the past 11 seasons. Guerrero went 3-for-4 in the game, raising his average to .302. If Guerrero finishes with a .300 average, it will be his 11th consecutive season with 25 or more home runs and a .300 average, tying him with Lou Gehrig for the longest streak of 25 home run/.300 average seasons.
--With their victory Monday, the Angels' lead in the AL West is 22 games. Only three teams since 1900 have finished a season with a lead of 22 games or more over their league or division -- the 1995 Cleveland Indians (30 games over the AL Central), the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates (27-1/2 games over the National League) and the 1998 New York Yankees (22 games over the AL East).
BY THE NUMBERS: 9 -- Ninety-win seasons in franchise history. Five of those have come in the past seven seasons.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're going to put bubble wrap on them. But they're going to play with it." -- Manager Mike Scioscia, on trying to keep his players healthy for the post-season.
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2B Howie Kendrick (sore left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 28. He ran on the field Sept. 8 and Sept. 12, and he returned to action on Sept. 22.
OF Juan Rivera (sore right hip flexor) was sore after the Sept. 13 game and sat out Sept. 14-21. He returned to action on Sept. 22.
