THE ANGELS had over 43,000 at their home opener Friday. Chuck Finley threw out the first pitch and the Angels win 5-1 (Angels photo).

The Angels first on the seventh! OK, it’s only April 7, and it’s only five games into the 2017 season, but the 5-1 win by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim over the Seattle Mariners Friday night put the Halos in first place tie with the Houston Astros in the American League West at 3-2.

It was a happy home opener at the Big A before over 43,000 fans as the home team displayed good hitting and pitching. The Angels got home runs by Cam Maybin and Kole Calhoun and Andrelton Simmons raised his batting average to .421 with two hits. Jesse Chavez went 5.2 innings and gave up just four hits and one run. He struck out six batters and walked but won as he picked up the win.

Overall the Angels had 11 hits, with the top of the lineup doing much of the damage. Yunel Escobar had three hits, Calhoun two and Mike Trout one (along with a walk). Albert Pujols continued his slow start, going 0-for-4 as his average sinks to .050.

The series with the M’s continues on Saturday with the start for the locals going to Ricky Nolasco.