A Mission Impossible? : Not for Angels : Baseball: They score seven runs in the ninth to tie and then beat the Blue Jays, 14-13, in the 10th.

It was the most remarkable comeback since Dick Schofield’s grand slam capped an eight-run ninth inning to carry the Angels to victory over Detroit on Aug. 29, 1986.

After letting a three-run lead turn into a seven-run deficit when the Toronto Blue Jays rolled up a pair of five-run innings in the eighth and ninth, the Angels rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the ninth and pulled out a most improbable 14-13 victory in front of what was left of a crowd of 20,413 at Anaheim Stadium.

“I feel mentally exhausted, but we’ll take it,” Angel Manager Buck Rodgers said. “We were able to give up 10 runs, score seven and win the game. This ranks as one of the top two comebacks I’ve been involved with.”

The Angels came out of spring training with the firm belief they had the lineup to contend for the title in the newly realigned American League West. Sure, the pitching was a little shaky, but they felt they would do some damage at the plate.

If Friday night was any indication, this is going to be a clubhouse full of tired arms and happy hitters.

Harold Reynolds, the 11th Angel batter of the ninth inning, hit a fly ball that carried over the head of Toronto right fielder Joe Carter and bounced into the seats for a ground-rule double that scored two runs and swept the Angels into extra innings. Rex Hudler, running for Bo Jackson, would have scored easily if the ball had stayed in the park. Gary DiSarcina grounded out to end the inning.

“If Reynolds doesn’t hit the ball so hard, we win it then and there,” Rodgers said.

It was the capping blow of a most improbable rally as the Angels strung together five singles, three walks, a sacrifice fly and Reynolds’ big blow.

Toronto had two runners on in the top of the 10th but Joe Carter lined out to left to end the inning.

The first two Angels--Chad Curtis and Jim Edmonds--to hit in the 10th struck out, but Tim Salmon beat out a roller to third and Chili Davis walked. Then Damion Easley, whose error on a slow ground ball in the eighth inning allowed the Blue Jays to score four unearned runs, lined a single to left and the Angels were celebrating around home plate.

“In the ninth inning, it was quiet on the bench,” Easley said. “Buck said, ‘Let’s get some good at-bats up there,’ and everyone took it to heart, I guess.

“You get one runner on and then you say, ‘Let’s get, two.’ ”

Rookie first baseman Eduardo Perez had two home runs, Salmon hit a two-run homer and Dwight Smith drove in two more to give the Angels a 6-3 lead in the eighth. But you never want to say “comfortable” and “lead” in the same sentence when talking about the Angels.

Nine Blue Jay batters later, however, the Angels were trailing by two runs. And one inning after that, Toronto led by seven.

The Angels’ Brian Anderson, a 21-year-old rookie, got his second start of the season and weathered a sometimes rocky six innings, giving up four hits and three runs. But thanks to the Salmon-Perez Power Co., he was in a position to pick up his second victory of the season.

Or so it seemed.

Scott Lewis was summoned to provide relief and cruised through a 1-2-3 seventh. Then the Blue Jays re-enacted batting practice for the folks who arrived late and missed it.

Devon White led off with a double to right-center and, one out later, Paul Molitor walked. Carter hit a slow roller to third and when Easley bobbled the ball, the bases were loaded.

Rodgers called for left-hander Bob Patterson to face left-hand hitting John Olerud. So much for the percentages. Olerud, who won the batting title last season, lined a two-run single to center.

Mike Butcher was next to emerge from the Angel bullpen and, like those before and after, soon was to leave the field with his head humbly hung. Ed Sprague greeted him with a double down the left-field line. Pat Borders followed with a single to left and Toronto led, 8-6.

Butcher gave up three consecutive hits--by White, Alomar and Molitor--and two runs in the ninth before giving way to Bill Sampen, who got an out after Carter’s rocket to deep center ran out of fuel on the warning track. But Olerud singled and then rookie left fielder Carlos Delgado lined an opposite- field homer to left, his seventh on the year.