ALBERT PUJOLS hit a three-run home run in the Angels’ 7-6 win over the Mariners Tuesday (Flickr/Eric Droust).

By Pete Zarustica

Like a rain shower in the desert, Tuesday’s 7-6 win over the Seattle Mariners came as a welcome relief for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after 11 straight losses. “It was a big win for us, it was huge,” said Mike Trout.

It remains to be seen whether the come-from-behind victory was the start of a turnaround or just a blip, but it was still a delight for team and fans at the Big A.

The Angels rallied from a 4-1 deficit and again from a 6-5 hole with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth. They benefited from three home runs, with the key blow being a triple by Cliff Pennington that knocked in the winning run.

Down by three runs after five innings, the Angels rallied for four runs in the sixth, with the big hit a three-run home run by Albert Pujols. It was his 22nd of the season. Jett Bandy hit a solo homer for the other score.

The M’s went back on top with two runs in the seventh, setting up the dramatic eighth. With two out, Jefry Marte homered to tie the game, and Pennington decided the night with his three-bagger to bring in Bandy with what proved to be the winning run.

Eight hits and seven runs were quite the improvement over recent games. Kole Calhoun and Bandy each had two hits, and Trout reached base three times on a single and two walks.

Angel starter Jhoulys Chacin didn’t do well, giving up seven hits and four runs in 4.2 innings, but the pitcher who followed him did better. Brett Oberholter (3-2) got the win and Fernando Salas the save, his third.

Now 50-69, the Angels will try to make it two in a row over the Mariners (63-55) when they send Tyler Skaggs (1-1) to the mound Wednesday.