Sojo Hits One to Paste Up in Family Album : Angels: With his parents at their first major league game, his homer in 10th leads to 7-3 victory over Yankees.

Luis Sojo’s father, Ambrosio, watched his son play only once in their native Venezuela. And until Sunday, Ambrosio had never seen Luis play in the major leagues.

“He doesn’t like to go to the stadium because he can watch TV and he likes replays,” Luis Sojo said. “There are no replays at the stadium.”

Sojo made the trip worthwhile for Ambrosio and for his mother, Cristina, with a two-run home run in the 10th inning Sunday, propelling the Angels to a 7-3 victory over the New York Yankees.

When he crossed home plate, Sojo waved to his parents in the Yankee Stadium crowd of 28,589. “I was 0 for 2 (Sunday) and then my wife told me they were here and the next time up I got a hit,” Sojo said. “I guess they bring me good luck. I feel so excited I could do this the first time he sees me play here.”

Sojo’s homer against former Angel Rich Monteleone (5-2) touched off a four-run inning and brought reliever Mike Butcher his second victory in three days. Tim Salmon hit his first homer in the major league, drove in two other runs with a single and a sacrifice fly, then doubled Mel Hall off second base in the ninth to stifle a Yankee scoring threat.

“I’m just trying to stay relaxed and do the same things I’d been doing (for Edmonton),” said Salmon, who lined an 0-and-2 pitch from Scott Sanderson 331 feet and into the left-field seats. “I’m not trying to hit the ball 1,000 feet. I’m just trying to put it in play.

“I’ve always hit home runs, but my first two years in pro ball, injuries broke up my season,” added Salmon, who hit 29 homers for the triple-A Trappers, six more than his previous high. “This year, I quit trying to hit them. I was trying to learn more about myself and my swing. I think they come more when I don’t try to hit them than when I do.”

Salmon’s fourth-inning homer provided the Angels’ first run, and he helped extend that lead to 3-1 in the fifth inning. Sojo started the flurry with a two-out double, and scored on Junior Felix’s single to right. Felix, who took second on the late throw home, scored when Salmon singled to left.

“He looks more comfortable every day,” interim Manager John Wathan said of Salmon, who turns 24 today. “It’s fun when kids contribute and come up and do what he and Damion Easley have done. Neither one seems to be intimidated. They seem to be enjoying it, and they’ve done a great job for us.”

Control problems kept Angel starter Mark Langston from holding that lead. He twice walked the No. 9 hitter, Pat Kelly, and each time paid for it. In the fifth inning, Kelly drew a two-out walk, took third on Bernie Williams’ single and scored on a wild pitch. In the sixth, Kelly walked with the bases loaded to bring home Don Mattingly, whom Langston hit.

Monteleone pitched four perfect innings in relief of Sanderson, a stretch that ended when Easley singled to right. Luis Polonia moved him to second with a sacrifice, bringing up Sojo.

“The first time I faced him, he threw me a couple of sliders,” Sojo said. “Then he threw a sinker and I missed that pitch and flied to left. (In the 10th inning) I knew he would come in with a fastball because he didn’t want to walk me and face Junior.”

Although Yankee Manager Buck Showalter knew Monteleone might be tiring, his only other options were to summon Russ Springer, who was recalled from triple A Columbus Saturday, or Jerry Nielsen, who was promoted Sunday. “You don’t necessarily want to bring them in in that situation,” he said.

After Sojo’s homer--his sixth of the season and first since July 23--Felix hit a triple and Salmon brought him in with a sacrifice fly. Ken Oberkfell doubled and scored on Gary DiSarcina’s single.

Sojo was promoted from Edmonton only because second baseman Bobby Rose was injured in the May 21 bus crash, which followed the Angels’ first visit to New York this season. Sojo had to be reminded of that but didn’t attach much importance to it. However, he wasn’t with the team when its two buses departed Yankee Stadium.

Said Sojo: “I’m not going to take the bus, but that’s because I’m going to drive with my parents.”