OC Register: Angels pull together for victory, cooling down Mariners

[AngelsWin.com]

• The Angels’ Luis Valbuena his an RBI double against the Seattle Mariners during a baseball game, Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

• CORRECTS TO LOS ANGELES ANGELS STARTING PITCHER, NOT SEATTLE – Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards works against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

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• Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Mike Leake works against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

• Seattle Mariners’ Kyle Seager hits a solo home run on a pitch from Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

• SEATTLE, WA – JULY 04: Garrett Richards #43 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches against the Seattle Mariners in the fourth inning during their game at Safeco Field on July 4, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani is congratulated in the dugout after scoring against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

• Seattle Mariners’ Ryon Healy, left, is congratulated by Ben Gamel after Healy hit a solo home run on a pitch from Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards during during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun hits an RBI single against the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, left, is greeted by Mike Trout after scoring against the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols watches his RBI single against the Seattle Mariners during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

• SEATTLE, WA – JULY 04: Kole Calhoun #56 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hits a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the sixth inning during at Safeco Field on July 4, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun flips his bat after hitting a two-run home run off Seattle Mariners’ Nick Rumbelow during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

• Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Nick Rumbelow reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun during a baseball game Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun is greeted by David Fletcher after both scored on Calhoun’s home run, while Seattle Mariners catcher Chris Herrmann looks away during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

• The ball hit by Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun drops between Seattle Mariners right fielder Ben Game and second baseman Dee Gordon during eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

• SEATTLE, WA – JULY 04: Garrett Richards #43 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim reacts after giving up a solo home run to Ryon Healy #27 of the Seattle Mariners in the second inning during their game at Safeco Field on July 4, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

• SEATTLE, WA – JULY 04: Garrett Richards #43 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches against the Seattle Mariners in the fourth inning during their game at Safeco Field on July 4, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

• SEATTLE, WA – JULY 04: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim looks on while on deck to bat in the fouth inning against the Seattle Mariners during their game at Safeco Field on July 4, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

• SEATTLE, WA – JULY 04: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrates with Andrelton Simmons #2 after scoring on an RBI single by Kole Calhoun in the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners during their game at Safeco Field on July 4, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

• SEATTLE, WA – JULY 04: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim flies out to left field in the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners during their game at Safeco Field on July 4, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

• SEATTLE, WA – JULY 04: Hansel Robles #57 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrates with Martin Maldonado #12 after getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on July 4, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

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SEATTLE — The Angels took a small step back into the playoff race on Wednesday afternoon.

The Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 7-4, combining production from throughout their new-look lineup, a solid start from Garrett Richards off the disabled list and a spectacular catch from David Fletcher.

The Angels ended the eight-game winning streak for the Mariners, who have been one of baseball’s biggest surprises in the first three months.

Kole Calhoun drove in three runs, including two on a homer, and Luis Valbuena drove in two with two hits. Albert Pujols, batting fifth for the first time since he was a rookie, also had a pair of hits and an RBI. Shohei Ohtani also had two hits a day after going hitless in his first game off the disabled list.

The defining moment of the game, though, was provided by Fletcher, who has been in the majors for less than a month.

The Angels led 6-3 in the seventh, but the Mariners had loaded the bases with no outs, with Hansel Robles on the mound. Robles struck out two straight hitters. Jean Segura then hit a blooper that seemed destined to drop in center field for a two-run single.

Fletcher, who was playing second base, ran back and fully extended to snag the ball. His catch defused the most difficult spot of the game for the Angels, who held on for a victory.

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They will need plenty more if they are going to make up what is now an 11-game deficit for the second American League wild card spot. At least a few of the elements they need for consistent winning were on display Wednesday afternoon.

Richards came off the disabled list after missing three weeks because of a hamstring injury and he was charged with three runs (two earned) in 5-1/3 innings. He struck out eight.

He allowed back to back homers to Kyle Seager and Ryon Healy in the second, but then faced the minimum over the next three innings. In the sixth, he was pulled after an infield hit, his own fielding error and a strikeout.

Richards was pulled after 80 pitches. He had thrown just 63 in his only rehab outing.

He left with a lead thanks to an attack that included 13 hits, more than half of which came from Calhoun, Valbuena and Pujols.

The Angels have struggled to get consistent offensive production from anyone but Mike Trout, Andrelton Simmons and Ohtani, when he’s been in the lineup.

More to come on this story.

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Calhoun .286 since he came back.  7 XBH