Scioscia Is Aware That Schedule Won’t Be Easy

Mike Scioscia’s contention that the Angels will “have to earn our way into the playoffs” isn’t merely managerial spin.

The Angels will play 12 of their 15 remaining out-of-division games against playoff contenders, more than either of the teams they are fighting for their first American League West title since 1986.

“We have a tougher schedule than anyone,” said Scioscia, whose team will try to tie a season high with its ninth consecutive victory tonight when it opens a three-game series against the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins at Angel Stadium.

By comparison, the Oakland Athletics, who lead the Angels by one game in the division, begin a three-game series against sub.-500 Tampa Bay. The third-place Texas Rangers, 2 1/2 games behind Oakland, play the slumping Baltimore Orioles.

The Angel schedule before beginning a season-ending stretch of 20 consecutive games against division rivals Sept. 13 also includes series against the wild-card contending Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox, teams that are clinging to faint hopes in the AL Central. Only the last-place Toronto Blue Jays present a possible breather.

“Our schedule is something that is going to be a challenge,” Scioscia said. “There’s a lot of teams that are playing extremely good baseball that are going to be on our schedule.”

Oakland plays nine of its last 15 out-of-division games against playoff contenders, and Texas plays 10 of its last 16 out-of-division games against teams still vying to make the postseason.

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Jose Molina has thrown out 45% of attempted base stealers, best in the league, but it’s his work handling the pitching staff during a season in which he is on pace to break his record for starts that has earned the biggest praise.

Angel pitchers have compiled a 4.42 earned-run average when Molina is behind the plate, the fifth-best mark in the league among catchers who have started at least 50 games. Brother Bengie Molina’s 4.29 mark is the third best in that category, behind Boston’s Jason Varitek (4.16) and Oakland’s Damian Miller (4.07).

“The bottom line with a catcher’s production is how many runs per game he gives up when he catches,” Scioscia said. “That will take into account how many guys he throws out, how many bad pitches he calls, how many balls does he block in the dirt, how is he affecting a team on the defensive end.”

Jose Molina also has increased his offensive contributions this season, hitting his first career grand slam Wednesday and stealing four bases after stealing none in his first 107 major league games.

Still, the backup catcher, who probably will earn a hefty raise through arbitration before next season, realizes where he has the biggest influence.

“Defense comes first for me, no doubt about it,” Molina said. “It’s what got me here, and I’ve always been a defensive catcher. I think I can do better too.”

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There were several striking similarities -- and one glaring difference -- between the Angels’ 21-6 rout of Kansas City on Wednesday and the last time they scored 21 runs, a 21-2 drubbing of the Cleveland Indians on April 30, 2002.

Jeff DaVanon, who Wednesday became the fourth Angel to hit for the cycle, drove in a career-high four runs in each game, though he didn’t enter until the eighth inning against Cleveland.

The Angels also had 22 hits in each game, four shy of the club record, and Ramon Ortiz recorded the victory each time, though he was far less impressive Wednesday, giving up 12 hits and six runs in six innings. Ortiz had held Cleveland to one run in eight innings.

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ON DECK

Opponent -- Minnesota Twins, three games.

Site -- Angel Stadium.

TV -- Fox Sports Net tonight, Channel 11 on Saturday, Channel 56 on Sunday.

Radio -- KSPN (710), KTNQ (1020).

Records -- Angels 73-54, Twins 71-56.

Record vs. Twins -- 3-3.

Tonight, 7 -- Aaron Sele (7-1, 4.43) vs. Brad Radke (9-6, 3.41).

Saturday, 1 p.m. -- Kelvim Escobar (8-9, 4.11) vs. Johan Santana (14-6, 3.13).

Sunday, 1 p.m. -- Bartolo Colon (13-9, 5.30) vs. Carlos Silva (10-8, 4.71).