Glaus Coming Through Again

The mighty slugger arose from his slumber Sunday, just in time for the final three weeks of the season. Third baseman Troy Glaus, whose raw power makes him the one Angel who can carry a team for a week or two, hit two home runs in a 6-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Glaus, who hit 41 homers last year and led the American League with 47 two years ago, has 24 this year. He had not homered twice in a game since the first week of the season, but he drove his two shots a combined 822 feet. Power hitters are notoriously streaky, and the Angels hope that Glaus started a hot streak Sunday.

“He’s a clutch performer,” closer Troy Percival said. “We really needed him today. If he can get hot the next couple weeks, that could carry us through.”

Glaus went hitless in his first 18 at-bats on the trip before homering in his last two Sunday. Still, he drove in six runs in the six games--four on the homers, one on a sacrifice fly, one on a bases-loaded walk. Look beyond his .246 average, and he ranks second on the team in runs scored (87) and runs batted in (95), with a .294 average with runners in scoring position.

The Angels extended their winning streak to 10 games Sunday.

“I think everybody on our team but Troy has been awful hot,” pitcher Jarrod Washburn said. “Now maybe he can pick us up. We can’t expect guys to stay on fire forever.

“I don’t think anybody our clubhouse was worrying about him being in a slump the rest of the year.”

*

Lou Pote stood on the mound Friday as his manager headed out for a visit. Pote had a no-hitter going for triple-A Salt Lake, with one out in the eighth inning and the Stingers needing one victory to advance to the Pacific Coast League championship series. He had just walked a batter, putting the tying run on base. He had struck out 11 and thrown 106 pitches, more than enough for a guy who spent most of the season in the Angel bullpen.

“I was just getting a little tired,” Pote said. “In the regular season, I would have stayed in there, but these were the playoffs. I wanted to be honest.”

So, when Manager Mike Brumley suggested he depart with the no-hitter intact, Pote readily agreed. Relievers Bart Miadich and Francisco Rodriguez completed the 1-0 victory--a one-hitter, as Rodriguez gave up a single in the ninth inning--and the Stingers open the PCL finals Tuesday against Edmonton, a Minnesota Twin affiliate.

Even the no-hit night might not get Pote a return ticket to Anaheim this season. Despite a 3.23 earned-run average, the Angels demoted him July 26. They already have 13 pitchers on their roster, plus the rehabilitating Aaron Sele, and aren’t sure whether to recall any more when the PCL playoffs end.

*

The Orioles sell their version of the rally monkey for $18--the regular stuffed monkey, with long monkey arms and long monkey legs and a long monkey torso, but with an oriole’s head and bill. The oriole is a proud bird, and the cross-breeding of a stuffed monkey and a stuffed bird looks ridiculous. For shame.

ON DECK

Opponent--Oakland Athletics, four games.

Site--Edison Field.

Tonight--7.

TV--Fox Sports Net, all four games.

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

Records--Angels 88-54, A’s 90-52.

Record vs. A’s--5-7.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

KEVIN APPIER

(14-9, 3.66 ERA)

vs.

A’S

TIM HUDSON

(12-9, 3.21 ERA)

Update--David Eckstein extended his hitting streak to 15 games Sunday, batting .456 over the span and tying Garret Anderson for the longest Angel streak this season. After putting Tim Salmon seventh in the batting order in Salmon’s first three games back from injury, Manager Mike Scioscia restored him to his traditional No. 3 spot Sunday.

Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Ramon Ortiz (12-9, 3.86) vs. Ted Lilly (4-6, 3.39).

Wednesday, 7 p.m.--John Lackey (8-3, 3.32) vs. Cory Lidle (8-10, 3.86).

Thursday, 7 p.m.--Jarrod Washburn (17-5, 3.32) vs. Mark Mulder (17-7, 3.63).

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.