Santana is way smooth

The Angels slugger hit a home run -- his 25th -- in the fourth inning and had two other hits to push his batting average to .302 in the Angels' 2-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Safeco Field on Monday night.

If Guerrero, who sat out six games last week because of an irritated right knee, closes the regular season Sunday with an average of .300 or better, it would mark the 11th consecutive year in which he hit at least .300 with 25 home runs.

Only one player in major league history has hit .300 with 25 home runs in 11 consecutive seasons -- Lou Gehrig, the Hall of Fame Yankees first baseman who did it from 1927 to 1937.

"When you're mentioned at all with Lou Gehrig in any way, shape or form, it puts into context the type of player you are," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "It's been fun to watch first-hand.

"At times, people take Vlad for granted when he's in a little slump here or there, but this guy is as good in the box as any hitter who has ever played the game."

Guerrero's home run, a liner to left-center field against Ryan Rowland-Smith, tied the score, 1-1. The Angels scored the winning run in the seventh inning when Jeff Mathis singled and scored when left fielder Raul Ibanez booted Reggie Willits' ensuing single for an error.

Ervin Santana gave up one run and five hits over eight superb innings, striking out nine, walking none and retiring the last 12 batters he faced to improve to 16-6 and lower his earned-run average to 3.25.

Santana's gem, in which he minimized the damage by giving up only one run after the Mariners loaded the bases with no outs in the third inning, came on the heels of ace John Lackey's six-inning, two-hit, no-run, 12-strikeout effort at Texas on Sunday.

Lackey and Santana are aligned to pitch Games 1 and 2 of the American League division series next week.

"Santana was throwing 98 mph on the inside and outside corners -- that's not fair -- and Lackey struck out 12 against a good-hitting Texas team," center fielder Torii Hunter said. "We'll definitely go into the playoffs with a little confidence, knowing we have a really good shot."

Francisco Rodriguez threw a scoreless ninth inning for his 61st save, extending his major league record, reducing the Angels' magic number to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs to four and sending the Mariners (57-99) to their 12th loss in a row.