ALBERT PUJOLS drove in two runs and scored two more as the Angels defeated the Mariner 9-3 in Seattle Sunday night.

By Pete Zarustica

Four in the fourth meant all alone in third.

That four-run rally by the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth inning Sunday afternoon in Seattle gave the Halos enough to go on to a 9-3 win over the Mariners.

It also put the Orange County team at 52-49, which means sole possession of third place in the American League West. It also puts the locals in fifth place in the AL wild card race, 5.5 games out.

Already ahead 1-0 on Albert Pujols’ 15th home run of the season, the Angels blew the game open in the fateful fourth. Brian Goodwin homered to  also bring home Pujols. Then, Luis Rengifo tripled to drive in two runners for a 4-0 edge.

David Fletcher then singled home Rengifo for a 5-0 advantage. The Halos added two more in the fifth, and then homers by Mike Trout (his 32nd) and Dustin Garneau put the Angels up 9-1.

Each team had a dozen hits, but the home Mariners could only bat 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base.

Dillon Peters (2-0) pitched a small gem for the Angels, working five full innings and giving up just four hits and no runs. He struck out four and walked two.

“I thought he did an outstanding job,” Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. “The fastball-curveball mix, occasional changeup to righties. When he throws strikes, he can be tough on guys. His curveball is a tough pitch to square up. I give credit to him.”

After an off-day on Monday, the Angels will resume their Freeway Series rivalry starting a series with the Dodgers on Tuesday with Felix Pena slated to start for the Halos.