Erstad Is the 10th Power

Power in the American League West may reside in Seattle and Oakland, who were playing Tuesday. But the better show was in Anaheim, where the Angels and Texas Rangers were playing.

By the time the Angels rallied for a 6-5 victory in the 10th inning on Darin Erstad’s game-winning double, there had been something for all the 15,385 at Edison Field to enjoy.

Intrigue: Angel pitcher Aaron Sele, who signed a three-year, $24-million contract in the off-season, was making his third start, hoping to see the sixth inning for the first time. He did and walked away with a no-decision, his high-point this season.

Comedy: Ranger outfielder Kevin Mench forgot there was only one out after snagging a fly in the first inning and tossed the ball to umpire Alfonso Marquez, allowing Garret Anderson to score from second base. Mench later fell down while running to first after a single in the sixth.

Mystery: Angel third baseman Troy Glaus left after three innings, because of what was said to be problems with his contact lenses. He had struck out in two at-bats, stranding four runners.

And, finally, drama: Erstad ripped an 0-2 pitch into the right-field corner, scoring Jose Nieves from second with the tying run. David Eckstein, followed, beating the relay to the plate.

Maybe this is not how the AL West will be won, but it was entertaining.

“It’s a win, so we’re going to treat this as a positive,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We got music playing in [the clubhouse] tonight.”

The tune was a bit different for the Rangers, whose bullpen has given up 16 runs in the last 112/3 innings. John Rocker took a one-run lead into the 10th. But Nieves beat out an infield hit and Eckstein walked. Erstad then brought them home.

“That’s what it’s all about,” Erstad said. “ That’s what you want to get done. That was fun for me. I feel great now, we won.”

Erstad certainly starred in this production, although he wasn’t feeling so great in the second inning.

He went face first into the fence while trying to catch a booming triple by Frank Catalanotto. Erstad was slow to get up, then had to go back to work. Rusty Greer, the next batter, hit a line drive to left-center that Erstad made a leaping try on. It went for a double to give the Rangers a 4-3 lead.

In the third, Erstad sprinted to his left, leaped and extended himself to make a diving catch on a Mike Lamb line drive.

Asked about Erstad’s performance, Sele said: “You better ask him how he feels about me after I tried to kill him tonight.”

Not a problem, Erstad said: “I prefer that to all the 0 for 4 days I had hitting against him.”

Sele gave up a three-run homer to Alex Rodriguez in the first Tuesday, but settled down. He went 62/3 innings, allowing three earned runs.