Eckstein Answers Loaded Question

By the time David Eckstein reached second base, he was in the Angel record book, this time for hitting baseballs instead of getting hit by them.

By the time he looked up and saw third-base umpire Paul Schrieber twirling his finger, singling home run, on-deck batter Darin Erstad was shaking his head.

By the time Eckstein got back to the dugout, the Angels were massed at the steps, waiting to congratulate him on his 331-foot chip shot.

Eckstein’s second-inning grand slam--his major league high third this season--put the Angels on the road to a 7-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds to again move within a game of first-place Seattle in the American League West.

Scott Schoeneweis gutted out 6 1/3 innings. Adam Kennedy continued his hot hitting with a two-run triple. The bullpen teetered, with Al Levine giving up three runs in the ninth, and Troy Percival had to come in to restore order, picking up his 13th save.

But what the 35,501 at Edison Field will remember is one swing by the Angels’ diminutive shortstop.

“I just can’t say enough about how that guy plays the game,” Erstad said. “The only thing I don’t like is there are no baserunners left when I get up.”

The three grand slams tied an Angel single-season record, set by Joe Rudi in 1978 and 1979.

Of course, Eckstein looks more “Rudy” than Rudi.

If there is one player in baseball above suspicion in the growing steroid debate, it’s Eckstein. He is generously listed as being 5 feet 8 and 170 pounds. His skills lean more toward getting on base by any means necessary.

“Maybe if I start hitting them 20 rows up, then you can start questioning me about that,” said Eckstein, as he flexed his right arm.

Eckstein set an Angel and major league record for rookies by being hit by 21 pitches last season. He is the American League leader this season, having been hit 10 times.

Eckstein got the Angels started Sunday in the first inning. He sliced a triple into the right-field corner, then scored on Erstad’s ground out. In the second, Tim Salmon singled, then was forced out on Orlando Palmeiro’s ground out. Bengie Molina singled and Kennedy walked, setting the stage for Eckstein.

With the count 1-and-1, he broke his bat fouling off a pitch. He sent pitcher Joey Hamilton’s next pitch down the left-field line, where it was caught by a fan in the first row.

“I wasn’t surprised that he hit a home run,” Hamilton said. “It doesn’t take a power-hitter to hit a hanging slider out down the left-field line.”

Eckstein, though, was surprised.

“I was rounding second base and looked up and saw the umpire motioning,” said Eckstein, who has three hits in seven at-bats with the bases loaded. “I didn’t know if it was a home run or a ground-rule double.

“Any home run I hit is by accident. I’m definitely not up there trying to hit one.

“I’m just trying to get a hit in that situation.”

The view from the dugout was different.

“He hit the ball and you knew,” Schoeneweis said. “He gets that inside pitch and he takes his shot. He works so hard that good things happen for him. Last year, we all talked about how he was the perfect rookie.”

Perfect was hardly the word for Schoeneweis on Sunday, yet he came away with his fourth consecutive victory.

Schoeneweis labored from the start Sunday. Barry Larkin singled and Juan Encarnacion walked to start the game. But Schoeneweis got Sean Casey to ground into a double play and Adam Dunn to fly out.

It was that way much of the game for Schoeneweis, yet he gave up only one run. The Angels helped out with three double plays.

“I made good pitches when I had to,” Schoeneweis said.

“There are days when you don’t have your best stuff out there. Those are the days that make or break your season. You have to dig deep.”

Of course, that was a little easier when Eckstein goes deep.