Angels ‘erupted’ after clinching AL West title, celebrate on field

The Angels’ 5-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners had been over for several minutes, and as the Oakland Athletics began unraveling in the ninth inning of their game, the screams from the Angels’ clubhouse could be heard through the concrete walls in a tunnel.

“I wish you guys could’ve been there to see it,” Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker said. “Everybody just erupted.”

At that point, the score was tied, and the Angels would have to wait longer. First there was a long video review, then the Rangers tacked on some more runs, and then there were some pitching changes. All the while, the Angels prepared for a celebration.

“It was just a lot of fun watching that happen,” Shoemaker said.

After that game ended, and the Angels had clinched the West, the players geared up with goggles and bottles of champagne. Some wore masks. They streamed out of the clubhouse and down the left-field line, spraying fans along the way. Here’s how they celebrated:

Most of the team made their way to right field, but Jered Weaver lingered behind. He held a bottle in each hand and walked slowly, looking up at the night sky, smiling.

Across the outfield, down the right-field line, Mike Trout had tears in his eyes — likely from the champagne. He fell backward into the stands so fans could catch and embrace him.

“Unbelievable,” he said. “I can’t explain this feeling right now.”

Howie Kendrick has played his entire career for the Angels, nine years in total.

“Me, Erick [Aybar], [Kevin] Jepsen and Weaver, we’ve been here the longest,” he said. “It feels good.”

But, he said, the recent additions have been key. The difference between this year and last, he said, is “we’ve been able to finish games.” He attributed that to the bullpen.

Nearby, down the third-base line, C.J. Wilson, who does not drink alcohol, sipped a Red Bull. Wilson had led the Angels to the win on Wednesday with perhaps his best start since May.

As Wilson spoke to reporters, Chris Iannetta crept up behind him and poured out the contents of his bottle on the head of Wilson, who looked annoyed.

“It’s cider,” Iannetta said, and at that, Wilson smiled.

Behind home plate, Weaver was telling the crowd that “this is the best clubhouse I’ve been in in a while.”

For one, the celebration was hard to watch. Garrett Richards wrapped his knee brace in plastic to keep it dry. A torn patellar tendon in his left knee on Aug. 20 knocked him out for the year and appeared at the time to be a low point for the team.

Teammates came by to offer an embrace, but, left to his crutches, he sometimes stood alone.

“It’s bittersweet,” he said.

Richards added it was tough to watch and not contribute.

“You become a cheerleader,” he said. “I couldn’t be any more proud of these guys.”

Albert Pujols, a World Series winner with the St. Louis Cardinals, has had many of these celebrations before, so he observed his younger teammates with some amusement.

“It’s great to see them get their first,” Pujols said.

He smiled and looked proud, and champagne dripped off the back of his hat.

zachary.helfand@latimes.com

Twitter: @zhelfand