Spiezio Saves His Best for Last

With the clock possibly ticking on his Angel career, Scott Spiezio expressed hope that his three-run walk-off home run Tuesday that propelled the Angels to a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics did not represent his last memorable moment at Edison Field.

Spiezio, who slammed the first pitch he saw in the ninth inning from Oakland reliever Jim Mecir into the seats in right-center field, will long be remembered for a far more significant homer in Angel history.

The three-run shot Spiezio hit in Game 6 of the 2002 World Series spurred the Angels to an improbable comeback victory over the San Francisco Giants, forever searing his name into the hearts of Angel fans.

But Spiezio, who might not fit into the Angels’ plans as an everyday first baseman next season, has said he would test the free-agent market this winter, though after his heroics Tuesday he did not rule out a return that would include a substantial reduction from his $4.25 million salary.

“There’s a possibility of that,” he said, “but if there’s other offers that are interesting ... I can’t tell you until I see what’s in front of me.”

Spiezio saw a high fastball in the ninth Tuesday and smacked it out of the park as the Angels became the last major league team to record a walk-off home run, in their 152nd game.

“It’s been a real tough second half, especially with the injuries and the way we’ve been playing,” said Spiezio, who took a delayed curtain call to the delight of several hundred fans who lingered above the Angel dugout. “To get a spark there is a great feeling.”

Mecir pitched the ninth because Oakland closer Keith Foulke had experienced back stiffness before the game. Mecir retired Chone Figgins to start the inning on a grounder to first before Garret Anderson stroked a single to left. Tim Salmon then walked to set the stage for Spiezio, who handed Mecir the loss in his first save situation of the season.

Oakland, which had taken the lead in the eighth on Erubiel Durazo’s run-scoring single over the head of second baseman Adam Kennedy, remained 4 1/2 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the American League West.

The crowd of 36,446 also roared with October intensity in the seventh when Anderson’s ground-rule double scored David Eckstein to tie the score at 3-3. But the speedy Figgins, who would have scored from first base had Anderson’s double remained in play, was sent back to third base by home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman in a development that at the time appeared crucial.

Reliever Ricardo Rincon intentionally walked Salmon to load the bases with one out, but Spiezio failed to bring Figgins home when he hit a fly ball to shallow center field.

Rincon then struck out Jeff DaVanon to end the inning.