Pujols puts M’s away after clubs swap rallies

SEATTLE — Albert Pujols ripped a three-run homer in the top of the ninth as the Angels beat Mariners closer Steve Cishek for a second straight night with a roller-coaster, 9-7 win on Saturday night at Safeco Field.

The Mariners had scored five runs in the eighth to grab the lead after Johnny Giavotella, Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout homered in the seventh in the Halos’ own five-run frame.

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Newly acquired right-hander Jhoulys Chacin pitched seven innings of two-run ball before the Angels’ bullpen gave up the lead when Mariners first baseman Adam Lind capped a four-RBI night with a two-run double, and backup catcher Steve Clevenger pushed Seattle into a 7-6 lead with a run-scoring single.

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The Angels (15-21) had lost six straight before the back-to-back comeback wins against Cishek, who had saved 11 of 12 opportunities before this weekend. The Mariners (21-15) saw their lead in the American League West cut to a half-game over Texas and lost a series for the first time since the second week of the season.

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MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

King Albert: Pujols’ game-winning home run — which came after Calhoun took a pitch to his right foot and Trout singled — was his 18th go-ahead home run in the ninth inning or later, the fourth-most in the Majors since 2000. Jason Giambi, Adam Dunn and David Ortiz all have 19. Pujols got his by turning on a 1-1 sinker, giving him eight home runs on the year and 568 for his career — one away from Rafael Palmeiro for 12th on the all-time list.

Lind checks in: The Mariners have been …

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