Angels Still Have a Faint Pulse

A three-game sweep of the wretched Detroit Tigers does not produce major implications or expectations for a team 11 games out of a playoff spot in mid-August.

But if the Angels can duplicate the success they enjoyed this week against the Chicago White Sox and Tigers -- the same teams they play during a seven-game stretch beginning today at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago -- then perhaps there will be something more to play for than a .500 finish.

The resurgent Angels have won five consecutive games and six of seven after an 11-6 victory over Detroit on Sunday at Edison Field completed their first series sweep since they routed the Minnesota Twins leading up to the All-Star break.

The Angels (60-64) are within four games of .500 after capitalizing on serviceable starting pitching and powerful hitting for a second consecutive game. Ramon Ortiz pitched six decent innings and the Angels amassed 15 hits and scored more than 10 runs two days in a row for the first time since early June.

“Even with some guys out of the lineup, you can see the chemistry and continuity forming in our lineup,” said Angel Manager Mike Scioscia, who started recent call-ups Chone Figgins in center field and Alfredo Amezaga at third base.

The longest hits belonged to Scott Spiezio and Adam Kennedy, who each homered, but the most significant belonged to Garret Anderson. The left fielder beat out a single to second baseman Warren Morris in the second inning to become the Angels’ all-time leader with 1,589 hits, breaking the record held by Brian Downing.

Anderson, who made his major-league debut with the Angels in 1994, didn’t acknowledge the standing ovation from 40,745 and left before speaking with reporters, leaving only his teammates to talk about the achievement.

“He just plays the game,” shortstop David Eckstein said. “He doesn’t look for the spotlight or the attention.”

Said Kennedy: “I’m sure he will just keep on rolling from here. The day you think he may be going through rough times, he’ll get three hits and erase those thoughts. He’s the most consistent player I’ve seen.”

Anderson, Kennedy and Spiezio finished with three hits apiece for a team that averaged six runs a game over the seven-game home stand. The Angels had averaged two runs a game in their previous 17 games. Every Angel starter except designated hitter Tim Salmon managed at least one hit Sunday, with Amezaga pushing his average over .100 for the first time this season.

After hitting only one homer in their last nine games, the Angels got two Sunday. Spiezio hit a solo shot in the fourth and Kennedy hit a two-run homer in the second for his career-high 10th of the season. The Angels also stole a season-high six bases, one short of the club record they established Aug. 25, 1981, against Boston.

The news was not quite as positive regarding Ortiz, who ended a two-game losing streak despite giving up eight hits and three runs, including Bobby Higginson’s third homer of the series. But Ortiz (14-10) escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth, prompting Scioscia to call the outing a “definite step forward.”

The Angels, 15 games behind Seattle in the American League West and 11 games behind Boston and Oakland in the wild-card standings, are not ready to declare themselves back in the postseason hunt. But they are certainly playing better, even with designated hitter Brad Fullmer out for the season and third baseman Troy Glaus and center fielder Darin Erstad facing the same possibility.

Said Kennedy: “We’re just going to try to continue to play good baseball.”