Angels’ Odd Couple Combines Its Forces : Baseball: Polonia and Curtis are opposites off the field, but deliver a 1-2 punch to lead a 7-6 comeback victory over the Red Sox.

Luis Polonia wears Armani suits and wouldn’t be caught dead without his gold jewelry. Chad Curtis routinely wears shorts and a polo shirt--and a watch with a plastic band.

They appear to be as different as any two Angels, but after Wednesday’s 7-6 comeback victory over the Boston Red Sox at Anaheim Stadium, they realized how vital they can be as a duo.

Tim Salmon drove in the winning run with a single to right field, capping a three-run ninth. And designated hitter Chili Davis went three for four with three runs batted in, increasing his RBI total to 63, more than the entire position produced for the Angels all last year.

Yet outfielders Polonia and Curtis were the talk of this game. They scored five runs, produced five hits and stole two bases. It was the first time the 1-2 hitters in the Angel lineup can remember having great games simultaneously.

They are different in many ways off the field but neither lacks confidence, and together they vowed that they can lead the Angels to the promised land.

“Let’s put it this way,” Curtis said. “If we both play like we’re capable the second half, it’s going to be kind of scary. If we both get going at the same time, we’ll be in this race until the last weekend of the year.

“I mean, look at us. We haven’t gotten it together at the same time all year. Can you imagine what will happen the second half if we do?”

The Amazin’ Angels? The team that should have been buried long ago--it has lost lost 22 of its last 35 games--is still only three games out of the American League West lead with a 40-42 record.

And showing a flair for the dramatic, the Angels once again kept the crowd of 29,147 from leaving early to beat the traffic.

They trailed as they came to bat in the ninth inning, 6-4, and were facing Red Sox bullpen stopper Jeff Russell. Yet, for the second time in three days, they made Russell look like a guy with a tender elbow pitching batting practice.

Gary DiSarcina led off with a double into the left-field corner. Greg Myers followed with another double, scoring DiSarcina. Polonia then beat out a bunt single--his third hit of the game--advancing pinch-runner Rod Correia to third.

Curtis then hit a bouncer toward second baseman Scott Fletcher. Polonia started to retreat, certain that Fletcher would try to tag him out and go for the double play. Instead, Fletcher threw home. Correia was already lying across home plate when the throw arrived, though, and the Angels had tied the game.

Three pitches later, Angel Manager Buck Rodgers was kind of wondering what Polonia was thinking about, having dived into third with a stolen base. Moments later, though, Salmon swung, the ball sailed past Fletcher into right field, and Polonia danced home.

So Rodgers was congratulating Polonia when he whispered into his ear afterward?

“Well, not exactly,” Polonia said. “He told me that if (Salmon) hit a line drive right there, it’s a triple play. He told me it wasn’t a smart play.”

The Angels know they still have plenty of inadequacies to resolve before there’s any serious talk of pennant drives, but they also realize that if Polonia, batting .256, doesn’t turn around his season, they have no chance.