Gil Hits Heights From Bottom

A 2.7-magnitude earthquake, with an epicenter two miles directly below the Network Associates Coliseum, struck Sunday during the fifth inning of a game between the Angels and Oakland Athletics, but that wasn’t the most unusual of rare occurrences during the afternoon.

That honor went to shortstop Benji Gil, whose first four-hit game in the big leagues helped propel the Angels to a 6-4 victory before a crowd of 26,211, evening the Angels’ record at 3-3 entering Tuesday’s home opener against Texas.

The chances of a four-hit game by Gil seemed less than remote considering his last start, when he went hitless in five at-bats and struck out three times Friday night, a performance that got him demoted from the No. 2 spot in the order against left-handers to the ninth spot.

“They could have hit me cleanup or 10th and I would have had a terrible night [Friday],” Gil said. “I don’t know if I wasn’t seeing the ball well or if it was a mechanical thing, but I was baffled.”

Gil spent some quality time with batting instructor Mickey Hatcher on Saturday, and though he didn’t make any drastic changes in his swing or stance, he seemed to gain some perspective.

“Two days ago I was feeling down,” Gil said. “But I realized, you can’t get down after four games or it’s going to be a really long season. It’s a long enough season as it is. I got more comfortable and decided to take good swings. If good things happen, great. If they don’t, be satisfied with your at-bats.”

It was all good Sunday for Gil. He singled during the Angels’ run- scoring third inning, singled in the fifth, capped a four-run, game-breaking rally with a two-run single in the sixth and added an infield single in the eighth.

Bengie Molina, the Angels’ No. 7 hitter, added a double, a single and two runs batted in, and No. 8 hitter Shawn Wooten had a double, a single and an RBI, as the bottom three batters combined for eight hits and five RBIs.

The bottom third of the Angel lineup combined to go 15 for 32 with 10 RBIs and four runs in the series, helping the Angels win two of three games against the defending American League West champions.

“You’re going to have to win when the big boys are not swinging the bats,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We’re going to have to have contributions from everyone.”

That includes starting pitchers and the bullpen. Angel left-hander Scott Schoeneweis (1-1) struggled to command his lively sinkers, walking six, but he limited the A’s to three runs on three hits and struck out six in six innings to gain the victory.

After walking two--one to load the bases, another to force in a run--reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa got Jose Ortiz to ground to third baseman Troy Glaus, who touched the bag and threw to first for an inning-ending double play in the seventh.

After yielding an RBI single to pinch-hitter Mario Valdez, which cut the Angel lead to 6-4 in the eighth, Ben Weber struck out Terrence Long, and left-hander Mike Holtz came on to strike out Ryan Christenson and Eric Chavez with runners on first and third to snuff the rally.

Closer Troy Percival spotted the A’s a leadoff walk in the ninth before retiring the next three batters for his second save.

The Angels had 12 hits, nine against Oakland starter Barry Zito, who looked unhittable when he struck out five of the first seven batters. But he was tagged for six runs in 5 1/3 innings.

“To win two of three from the A’s is significant,” Schoeneweis said. “It sets the tone. It’s exciting.”

Schoeneweis, who relies almost exclusively on his hard sinker, had a good idea he would have control problems during warmups.

“My ball was moving so much, it would come out of my hand dive-bombing,” Schoeneweis said. “Against some teams, I would have thrown a 75-pitch complete game with that stuff, but these guys are very selective. I knew it would be a tough day for me.”

Schoeneweis fought through it, though. He induced two double-play grounders and made only one glaring mistake, a 3-and-1 fastball that Miguel Tejada belted for a home run in the sixth.

“I’m upset about the walks, but I got into the seventh inning in a position to win,” Schoeneweis said. “I can’t complain about that.”