Moyer's career-best 18th win caps clincher

SEATTLE (AP) -- The Seattle Mariners celebrated the American League West title, and so much more.

Seattle players walked in a line hugging one another after their 5-0 win over the Anaheim Angels on Wednesday, then gathered at the mound and knelt for a moment of silence to pay tribute to victims of last week's terrorist attacks.

Mark McLemore hoisted an American flag into the air and led his teammates around the base path as others raised their arms in the air and tipped their hats.

"It was just something that came together," McLemore said. "It wasn't choreographed. I don't think I could be any prouder to be an American than I am tonight."

The celebration was spontaneous. Winning the AL West was special, but in the wake of national tragedy, it was secondary.

Jamie Moyer collected his career-best 18th win and the Mariners beat the Angels just hours after clinching their third division title.

Seattle wrapped up the division when Texas beat second-place Oakland 10-4 behind a big night from former Mariners' star Alex Rodriguez.

Oakland's game ended when the Mariners were in the fourth inning, leading the Angels 1-0. Manager Lou Piniella shook hands with players and offered hugs in the dugout, while others slapped high-fives.

The sellout crowd of 45,459 gave the Mariners a standing ovation and cheered madly for several minutes when "2001 AL West champions" flashed across every scoreboard between the fourth and fifth innings.

After the final out, a banner reading "2001 A.L. WEST CHAMPIONS" was unveiled in center field. Streamers shot into the air. Fans waved flags and cheered.

"What happened today, I've never experienced anything like it in baseball," Seattle's Edgar Martinez said. "It just felt emotional. I was just bawling the whole time as we were walking around the field."

The Mariners didn't spray champagne in a toned-down clubhouse celebration in the wake of last week's events, choosing to sip it quietly instead.

"It was a real nice day," Piniella said, sipping champagne in his office. "Our goals are certainly loftier than this. We hope to treat fans to a lot of baseball well into October."

Moyer (18-5) allowed three hits in six innings to win his ninth straight before turning it over to the bullpen. Four relievers completed the five-hitter.

"He did what he does best," Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said of Moyer. "We just played bad baseball the last couple nights."

The Mariners (106-40) won their seventh straight game, moved a franchise-record 66 games over .500, and remained on pace to pass the Chicago Cubs' major league record of 116 wins set in 1906.

Rodriguez, who played on Seattle's two previous division winners, hit a two-run home run in the first inning that gave Texas the lead for good.

The All-Star shortstop left the Mariners after leading them to the AL championship series last season to sign a $252 million, 10-year contract with the Rangers.

"Seattle is a team that deserves to win," Rodriguez said. "They've got a lot of classy people. It's a great organization and it's going to be a great playoff race.

"I feel unbelievable for them. I feel like I have my second family over there. Obviously this is my first family. But I couldn't say enough good things about them. I'll be cheering for them in the postseason."

A two-run homer by Martinez against Scott Schoenweis (10-10) capped Seattle's three-run fifth inning keyed by a throwing error from Anaheim shortstop David Eckstein.

Moyer struck out Jose Fernandez on a change-up with the bases loaded in the sixth, ending Anaheim's only serious threat.

Mariners fans have been talking about the playoffs -- and even the World Series -- from the beginning of the season.

Way back in April, Ichiro Suzuki gave them a glimpse of what was coming. His bunt single in the eighth inning of his major league debut sparked the game-winning rally as Seattle defeated Oakland 5-4 on opening night.

It was the start of something special in Seattle. The Mariners have been in first place every day since. Seattle won 20 games each in April, May and August. The ballpark has been sold out 51 times this season.

New faces like Suzuki, a seven-time batting champion from Japan, and Bret Boone have helped this city forget about losing stars Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson.

Suzuki, who went 1-for-4, leads the AL with his .349 batting average, and leads the majors with 221 hits. Boone's 35 home runs are the most in a season by an AL second baseman.

Game notes
Anaheim has been shut out 12 times this season, compared to five in 2000. The Angels have been shut out in three of their last four games, including a 4-0 loss to the Mariners on Tuesday. It was the second time they have been shut out in back-to-back games. ... Seattle matched a franchise-high 13th shutout, set in 1991. ... Moyer is 3-1 against Anaheim this season.