ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels refused to indulge in champagne, cigars or self-congratulation after securing their first playoff spot in a half-decade.
Their goals extend far beyond the mere formality they reached with yet another dominant victory over a division rival.
The Angels became the first team in the majors to clinch a postseason berth on Monday night, with Matt Shoemaker pitching five-hit ball into the eighth inning of an 8-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
Manager Mike Scioscia made his priorities clear when he arrived at his postgame news conference table and unceremoniously swept aside three Angels caps with postseason logos attached to their sides.
“Guys are aware that this is one little milestone that we need, and I think they’re proud of that,” Scioscia said. “But we have a long way to go. I think these guys know the bigger prize that we need to keep our eyes on.”
They also need to watch their health. Albert Pujols left the game in the third inning with a left hamstring cramp after hitting a three-run double, while Shoemaker felt discomfort in his left side after his final pitch.
Pujols wrote off the cramp to dehydration on another hot day in Orange County, and he expects to play Tuesday. Shoemaker will have an MRI on Tuesday, but the pain had already disappeared after the game.
David Freese and Brennan Boesch homered for the big league-leading Angels (94-56), who reduced their magic number to three in the AL West race with their 11th victory in 12 games. Los Angeles is assured of at least a wild- card berth, but is four games ahead of Baltimore in the quest for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
“When the time comes, I’m pretty sure everybody is going to celebrate,” said Pujols, who got a clutch two-out hit off Hisashi Iwakuma (14-8) for Los Angeles’ first runs. “Just because you earn a spot, that doesn’t mean you’ve done your job.”
Shoemaker (16-4) improved his own franchise record for rookie victories with his ninth win in 11 appearances since July 26. He pitched seven shutout innings and didn’t allow a runner to reach third base before Logan Morrison doubled and scored on two groundouts in the eighth.
Tony Campana had a two-run single and Howie Kendrick had an RBI double in the Angels’ 17th win in 20 games.
The Mariners (80-69) dropped two games behind Kansas City for the second AL wild-card spot with their fifth loss in six games.