"This (Santana) is probably the best we've seen from anybody all year in terms of velocity and off-speed stuff," Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said. "You put your measuring stick right there - that's as good as it gets right there."

Santana (16-6) allowed one run and five hits to match his career high for victories. He struck out nine, walked none and improved to 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA against Seattle this season.

Rodriguez got three outs to extend his major league record for saves to 61 and earn his 10th against the Mariners this year.

Los Angeles, which clinched the AL West title on Sept. 10, is still trying to earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Angels (97-59) hold the edge over Tampa Bay (93-62), which beat Baltimore 4-2 on Monday night.

Manager Mike Scioscia said Santana probably will start Saturday if it remains tight into the weekend.

"We'll see where we are," Scioscia said. "These games still have meaning. There's some challenges to the regular season that we want to accomplish. We'll have decisions to make."

The Angels also earned their 48th road win, giving them one more than the previous mark set in 2004. Their 97 victories overall are two short of the club record set by the 2002 team that won the World Series.

The Angels went in front 2-1 in the seventh, taking advantage of an error by left fielder Raul Ibanez. Jeff Mathis reached on a one-out single and Willits followed with a drive into left-center that bounced off Ibanez's glove.

Mathis went to third on Willits' single and scored on Ibanez's miscue.

Seattle loaded the bases with no outs in the third, and only came away with one run. Santana struck out Yuniesky Betancourt before Ibanez's hard grounder to first gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead. Santana then fanned Jose Lopez to end the inning.

"I don't think too much about bases loaded," Santana said. "I take it normal in my mind and say like, 'Nobody's on base' and try to hit my spots."

Scioscia said getting out of that jam allowing only one run was the key.