Angels’ Play Is Still First-Rate

The Angels boarded a plane for Seattle on Thursday feeling a whole lot better about themselves than the last time they played in Washington state.

A 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the Oakland Athletics before 31,653 at Edison Field in the afternoon clinched the series against the A’s, concluded an impressive homestand and sent the Angels into a three-game series against the first-place Mariners with momentum.

The Angels knew that if the Mariners lost to the Texas Rangers on Thursday night, they would be tied for first place in the American League West for the first time this season.

The Mariners won, 7-2, to maintain their one-game lead over the Angels. Not that it mattered much to the Angels.

“Being tied for first place in July doesn’t do much good other than put you in position to do something later on,” center fielder Darin Erstad said.

Early this season, the Angels looked like anything but contenders. When they traveled to Seattle in April, they were 6-12. They lost the first two games of the series to record the worst start in franchise history before winning the finale and starting the run that brought them to their current standing as one of the most resourceful teams in the majors.

This past week, they swept the Mariners in three games for the first time since 1998 and took two of three games from the hard-charging A’s.

Angel Manager Mike Scioscia, who saw his patchwork bullpen step up with Troy Percival on the disabled list, noted the differences in his club since its last visit to Safeco Field.

“We have a better chance in some areas to get the matchups we want pitching-wise,” Scioscia said. “Offensively, it’s like night and day. We went through that stretch [early in the season] hitting .220 as a team. Ever since, we’re probably close to .290. We’re giving our pitchers enough support to let them relax and make pitches.”

On Thursday, the Angels had 13 hits--all singles--and overcame a 3-0 deficit. Shortstop David Eckstein had four hits, tying the most in his career, and drove in the tying run in the sixth. Garret Anderson had three hits, the biggest one coming with the score tied, 4-4, in the eighth inning.

With runners at first and second, Anderson hit a flare to left field against Oakland closer Billy Koch. The ball dropped in, scoring Erstad, who had reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Anderson wasn’t quibbling about how hard he hit the ball.

“They don’t even out, so I’ll take them as they come,” said Anderson, who is batting .303 and has an 11-game hitting streak.

Eckstein said the Angels were leaving for Seattle as contenders because several players have been contributing to victories. That’s in marked contrast to early in the season when Anderson was the only one performing consistently on his way to his first All-Star game selection.

On Wednesday night, reserve outfielder Orlando Palmeiro hit a three-run double to key a 5-1 victory. On Thursday, Tim Salmon had a two-run single in the fifth inning and pinch-hitter Jorge Fabregas delivered a run-scoring single that pulled the Angels to within one run in the sixth.

“Day in and day out it’s a different guy coming through,” Eckstein said. “Back then, it was, ‘Come on, [Garret Anderson]. Let’s go.’ Now it’s a complete team effort.”

No component has been more important recently than the bullpen.

Scot Shields (3-1) pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of starter Ramon Ortiz on Thursday and compiled four shutout innings during the homestand.

Ben Weber pitched the ninth and got three outs on ground balls for his fifth save.

The Angels have come from behind in 30 of their 60 victories.

“The way this team has been coming back, the bullpen just says, ‘Let’s hold ‘em and see what happens,’ ” Weber said.

With Percival set to come off the disabled list Saturday and reliever Al Levine looking to make his first appearance since coming off the disabled list last weekend, the bullpen will be shuffled again.

But the way the Angels played during their homestand has them feeling confident about their chances against the Mariners, who have been to the playoffs in each of the last two years.

“They’ve played some meaningful series over the last couple of years,” Adam Kennedy said. “We’re the ones who have to step it up.”