Angels Get Message Across on the Road

Tim Salmon and Ramon Ortiz were lost in translation but united in victory Sunday when they combined to lift the Angels to a 4-3 triumph over the Oakland Athletics that completed a rare three-game sweep by the visitors at Network Associates Coliseum.

Salmon hit a three-run homer and Ortiz pitched five serviceable innings after a dugout exchange one day earlier in which the Spanish-speaking Ortiz thought Salmon had predicted that the pitcher and designated hitter, both struggling to find success early in the season, would unite to beat the A’s.

Not exactly, but the botched translation proved prophetic nonetheless as the Angels became the first team to sweep Oakland at home since Boston in May 2002, a span of 49 series.

“There’s a communication gap,” Salmon said afterward, laughing. “I said, ‘You know, the first month has been bad for me and you, but hey, next month will be me and you.’

“With Ramon, you never know what he’s hearing and what he’s understanding.”

The A’s never seemed to know what Ortiz was throwing, either. The beleaguered right-hander, who entered the game with a 12.66 earned-run average, gave up two runs but worked out of several jams to keep the Angels close until Salmon’s blast in the sixth inning put them ahead to stay.

Ortiz became the fourth consecutive Angel starter to last exactly five innings and earn a victory. This one gave the Angels a season-best four-game winning streak and kept them tied with Texas atop the American League West standings. Ortiz persevered despite another here-we-go-again first inning in which he walked three batters and needed separate visits from pitching coach Bud Black and catcher Bengie Molina before benefiting from a 3-6-3 double play.

Eric Karros, who struck out to help Ortiz escape his 26-pitch first inning unscathed, smacked a double in the fourth to tie the score, 1-1. But Ortiz minimized the damage by stranding two runners after Marco Scutaro struck out swinging on what would have been ball four off the plate. Damian Miller struck out when he failed to check his swing, and Frank Menechino grounded out to third.

“The fact that he bent a little bit but didn’t break is important because if he can keep us in games, we feel we can get to where we need to be,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said.

Oakland scored again in the fifth, taking a 2-1 lead when Eric Chavez grounded into a double play, before Salmon deposited a high slider from Rich Harden into the concrete stairwell beyond the left-field fence to end an 0-for-13 slide.

“I kind of felt a little funky yesterday and today the first couple of at-bats,” said Salmon, who rejoined the lineup Saturday after missing four games because of a sore left knee, “but for whatever reason that one at-bat clicked. It’s one time hitting the ball hard, but it kind of gets you rolling.”

The A’s pulled to within a run in their half of the sixth when Molina, a two-time Gold Glove award winner, uncharacteristically flubbed a pitch from reliever Ben Weber. With Scott Hatteberg on third, a called strike to Miller caught the edge of Molina’s glove and bounced toward the backstop, allowing Hatteberg to score.

But Francisco Rodriguez and Troy Percival shut down Oakland in the final three innings, pinch-hitter Erubiel Durazo flying out to the warning track in center field for the final out.

The victory was especially satisfying for the Angels considering they won with their two biggest boppers, Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson, out of the lineup because of mild injuries. Their replacements, Jeff DaVanon and Chone Figgins, contributed with two hits and two stolen bases.

“We’ve got guys who can step in and keep the ship afloat,” Salmon said. “That’s going to make a difference.”

The most encouraging sign was the improvement by Ortiz, who struck out six in his 110-pitch outing and issued no walks after his erratic first inning. Ortiz (1-2) said he altered his approach by allowing Molina to call every pitch.

“This time, I don’t shake the signs,” Ortiz said. “I follow Bengie.”

That plan translated to a victory -- in any language.