Angels clinch playoff berth in 8-1 win over Mariners

KEY MOMENT: The Angels loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning when Efren Navarro drew a four-pitch walk from Hisashi Iwakuma — only the 17th walk of the season and fourth four-pitch walk for the Mariners right-hander — Kole Calhoun singled and Mike Trout walked. Albert Pujols fell behind in the count but fouled off four tough 0-and-2 pitches before smacking a low-and-away split-fingered fastball down the left-field line for a three-run double and a 3-0 lead. Howie Kendrick followed with an RBI double to right-center to make it 4-0.

AT THE PLATE: David Freese led off the fourth with a solo homer to right-center, and singles by Brennan Boesch and Navarro knocked Iwakuma out of the game. The runners advanced on Calhoun’s groundout, and Seattle intentionally walked Trout to load the bases for Tony Campana, who replaced the injured Pujols in the third. Campana grounded a two-run single to center for a 7-0 lead. Boesch added a solo homer in the fifth to make it 8-0.

ON THE MOUND: The Angels finally beat their nemesis, Iwakuma, who entered with a 5-0 record and 1.64 earned-run average in eight career games against the Angels but was pounded for seven runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings Monday night. Angels starter Matt Shoemaker (16-4) allowed one run and five hits in 7 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking none. Left-hander Joe Thatcher got the last out of the eighth, and right-hander Vinnie Pestano threw a scoreless ninth.

EXTRA BASES: The Angels have informed Greg Morhardt, an area scout who was instrumental in the drafting of Trout in 2009 before being promoted to national cross-checker, that his contract will not be renewed for 2015. … Pujols’ three-run double in the third gave him 1,595 career RBIs, tying him with Mike Schmidt for 35th on baseball’s all-time list.

UP NEXT: Right-hander Cory Rasmus (3-1, 2.80 ERA) will oppose Seattle left-hander Roenis Elias (10-12, 3.81) at Angel Stadium on Tuesday at 7 p.m. On the air: TV: FS West. Radio: 710, 830, 1330.