Glaus Has Impact in Other Ways

It pains Troy Glaus to see his .245 batting average and know that mark hasn’t risen above .251 since July 6, but the Angel third baseman can take solace in more important numbers.

Glaus’ two-run home run in the sixth inning of Sunday’s 4-1 victory over the Indians was his 33rd of the season. He leads the team with 82 runs and ranks second behind Garret Anderson with 79 runs batted in.

Though his average is far off his .284 of 2000 and Manager Mike Scioscia believes he’s capable of hitting .300, Glaus is on pace for 43 homers, 108 runs and 104 RBIs. He also has a team-leading 78 walks, which is one reason Scioscia hasn’t moved him out of the third spot in the order.

“The only stats that are important are his production numbers, and those are in line to exceed last year,” Scioscia said. “With any hitter, the natural inclination is to think batting average is a reflection of production, but we’re looking for him to drive the ball and knock in runs.

“The bonus is he walks a lot and scores a lot of runs. He’s a big reason why Garret has so many RBIs. Troy has been on base a lot.”

Anderson doubled and scored on Scott Spiezio’s two-run homer in the fourth inning Sunday, and Glaus followed Darin Erstad’s single in the sixth with a liner over the right-field wall on a 2-and-2 Bartolo Colon changeup to give the Angels a 4-0 lead.

“Everyone wants to hit for a high average,” Glaus said. “But for my role, it’s runs and RBIs, and above and beyond that is whatever. My job is to score runs and drive in runs.”

Troy Percival’s ninth-inning entrance Sunday elicited the usual buzz in Jacobs Field, the sound of anticipation of a Cleveland comeback against an Angel closer whose struggles in Cleveland have been well-documented.

The noise level increased dramatically when pinch-hitter Omar Vizquel got ahead in the count, 3-and-1, but Percival muzzled the fans when he got Vizquel to pop out.

Percival then threw a perfect curve to the outside corner for strike two against Roberto Alomar, significant because he has had trouble commanding that pitch in recent weeks. Alomar struck out looking at a fastball, Juan Gonzalez singled and Ellis Burks flied to left to end the game.

Percival had a 0-4 career record and an 18.00 earned-run average in Cleveland through 2000, but he tamed those Jacobs Field demons this season. Percival threw a hitless ninth for a save in the Angels’ 3-1 victory in Cleveland on April 25, and he recorded his 35th save of the season Sunday.

The Angels open a key four-game series against wild-card contender Boston tonight, but Scioscia won’t give added significance to the series beyond tonight’s game. “If we were playing the Toledo Mud Hens, we’d approach it the same way,” he said. “That’s how we’ve been operating all year, and that short focus is working.” . . . Spiezio’s homer was his 10th of the season. All have come from the left side.

After losing to Oakland, 2-0, on July 4, the Angels’ record was 38-45 and they were 23 games behind Seattle. Since then, the Angels are 28-13, but they have not gained one game on the Mariners.

ON DECK

Opponent--Boston Red Sox, four games.

Site--Edison Field.

Tonight--7.

TV--Fox Sports Net all four games.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Records--Angels 66-58, Red Sox 67-55.

Record vs. Red Sox--3-0.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

ISMAEL VALDES

(8-6, 3.48 ERA)

vs.

RED SOX’S

FRANK CASTILLO

(7-7, 4.81 ERA)

Update--Boston’s Manny Ramirez left Sunday’s game in the seventh inning because of a strained right hamstring. His status is day to day. The Angels are 9-1-1 in their last 11 series, and their last four series have each followed the same pattern, with the Angels winning the first game, losing the second and winning the third.

Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Scott Schoeneweis (10-8, 4.61) vs. David Cone (7-2, 4.22).

Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Ramon Ortiz (11-7, 4.14) vs. Tim Wakefield (8-8, 3.57).

Thursday, 7 p.m.--Pat Rapp (5-10, 4.47) vs. TBA.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.