By The Associated Press
Oakland, Calif. – The Los Angeles Angels are going back to the playoffs, and this year they will have plenty of time to get ready.
Bengie Molina homered, and Ervin Santana pitched 6 2/3 strong innings, helping the Angels clinch the AL West title with a 4-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.
The Angels arrived in Oakland on Monday needing two victories in the four-game series to wrap up the division crown, and they quickly took care of business. Los Angeles won the opener 4-3, then came back from an early one-run deficit Tuesday to eliminate the A’s from postseason contention.
When pinch-hitter Bobby Kielty flied out to left to end it, Molina jumped for joy and threw both arms in the air, then the Angels made a mad dash to the mound to celebrate.
Now the Angels get to relax a bit during their final five games and wait as four other teams fight for the AL’s three remaining playoff spots. Last year, they won the West by beating Oakland on the final weekend.
Santana (11-8) won his third consecutive start and the free-swinging Angels reached the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time in franchise history – celebrating in the very place they captured the division title a year ago.
Juan Rivera added an RBI double, Robb Quinlan singled in a run and Chone Figgins had an RBI single as the Angels won the fifth division title in club history with their 10th win in 11 games.
Francisco Rodriguez allowed a leadoff homer to Marco Scutaro in the ninth, but recovered for his 16th consecutive save and 43rd overall.
