Angels Refusing to Visit Old Haunts

The Angels are not only exorcising demons of Septembers past, they’re burying them and dancing on their graves nightly in a raging party with no end in sight.

The mood is festive these days at Edison Field for everyone except the visitors, with the Texas Rangers being added to the list Friday night in a 3-2 Angel victory before 35,345 that enabled Anaheim to keep pace with the Oakland Athletics atop the American League West.

Jarrod Washburn (18-5) continued the positive trend for the Angels with his third consecutive victory, helping to reduce the club’s magic number to clinch a playoff spot to eight games while providing a needed lift for himself after a trying week.

The young ace was sharp in his first start since the Orange County district attorney declined to file sexual assault charges against him Wednesday. The left-hander gave up five hits--including Todd Greene’s eighth home run--and and two runs (one earned) in 7 1/3 solid innings.

Manager Mike Scioscia lifted Washburn after Ruben Rivera fouled out on his 100th pitch.

Fans responded with a standing ovation, prompting Washburn to raise his cap high in appreciation..

“It was a big, big lift for me,” said Washburn, who with three scheduled starts remaining could become the club’s first 20-game winner since Nolan Ryan in 1974. “I was a little anxious going into this start, not knowing exactly how the fans were going to react, and they answered it pretty quickly.

“When I was warming up before the game, I heard a lot of positive comments and support, and they were outstanding the entire game. I felt it was only appropriate to let ‘em know how much I appreciated it.”

Trailing, 1-0, after the Rangers scored in the first with the help of second baseman Adam Kennedy’s 11th error, the Angels scored two runs in the third on David Eckstein’s sacrifice fly and Garret Anderson’s two-out single.

Kennedy atoned for his early miscue, first by walking and scoring the first Angel run after advancing to third on a wild pitch and passed ball, then giving the Angels a 3-1 lead with a two-out RBI single in the fourth. He also singled in the eighth.

After relieving Washburn in the eighth, setup man Ben Weber made a nifty play on pinch-hitter Todd Hollandsworth’s line drive for the second out in his team-leading 55th appearance. He then struck out Michael Young to hold the Rangers in check with closer Troy Percival getting ready.

Percival had to earn his 38th save in 42 chances the hard way, facing shortstop Alex Rodriguez (54 homers) to start the inning. Rodriguez fouled out to third baseman Troy Glaus on Percival’s first pitch, Rafael Palmeiro (40 homers) popped out and Ivan Rodriguez struck out to end the game.

The Angels (92-55) won for the 14th time in 15 games, moving within one victory of duplicating the franchise record for wins in a season set during the 1982 run to the West division championship. The Rangers (69-78) had their winning streak ended at four games as starter Joaquin Benoit (3-4) gave up three runs in four innings.

Fans did not boo when Washburn’s name was announced in the opening lineups, and there did not appear to be any backlash directed at him.

He had been under investigation for 10 days and left the team to be with his family Tuesday, when Anaheim police publicly confirmed the investigation of the allegations. Washburn rejoined the club Wednesday.

Holding to form this season, Washburn didn’t disappoint in the game.

“Wash has shown that he can go out there and not take any distractions or any baggage with him,” said Scioscia, whose team is 29-17 in one-run games. “It was obviously a very emotional week for him, and for all of us, and he went out there and ... he pitched. He was strong all the way through it, and I think the way the crowd reacted says it all.”