Angels Get Some Steam

This was a big game, at least as far as June games go. Tim Salmon, the heart and soul of the Angels for so long, wondered how many more big games would go on without him.

The Angels took away Salmon’s glove last year. They dropped him from third to seventh in the lineup this spring. And, as of Monday, as Manager Mike Scioscia explained to him before a 10-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics, the all-time franchise leader in home runs will be a part-time designated hitter, at least for now.

“I’m trying to cool my jets right now,” Salmon said, “and let his reasoning play its way out and go along with it for now.”

Vladimir Guerrero, the right fielder for the new generation of Angel fans, pummeled the A’s for four hits, including his 17th home run, and drove in four runs, tying Boston’s David Ortiz for the American League lead with 63.

With David Eckstein atop the lineup for the first time in nine days, the Angels put up a pair of four-run innings, to the delight of a rare Monday sellout at Angel Stadium. The Angels closed within a half-game of the first-place A’s in the AL West, thanks largely to a lightning attack in the fifth and sixth innings.

Within a span of 10 batters, the Angels pounded Oakland starter Rich Harden for seven hits. Eckstein doubled home two, Guerrero singled home one, and Garret Anderson and Bengie Molina each doubled home one. The rampage more than supported Angel starter John Lackey, who tamed Oakland, giving up two runs over eight innings in the victory.

After lugging an earned-run average approaching 6.00 into June, Lackey has a 3.72 earned-run average in four starts this month.

With Eckstein, Anderson, Molina and Darin Erstad all returning from injury in recent days, the Angels believe their sluggish offense will revert to its high-octane form.

“It’s just a matter of time,” Lackey said. “We’ve got too many good hitters on this team. It’s going to click, and it’s going to click for a long time.”

Salmon returned from the disabled list two weeks ago, with the Angels headed to National League ballparks, where the designated hitter is not used. When the Angels returned to Anaheim on Monday and Salmon saw a lineup card without his name, he sought out Scioscia for a meeting that lasted some 25 minutes.

Although Scioscia said the designated hitter “won’t be strictly a platoon,” for now Salmon will play against left-handers and Jeff DaVanon against most right-handers. DaVanon is hitting .312, Salmon .229.

“It’s more a reflection on Jeff DaVanon and wanting to get him at-bats,” Scioscia said. “Tim wants to play, and I can respect that. He will play. He needs at-bats to get productive, and he’ll get them.”

Said Salmon: “Am I satisfied? No. I’d like to be playing. He gave me enough reasoning to understand his situation right now. He promised me I’ll get my at-bats and my playing time will be where I want it to be.... I hear that. I’ve just got to wait and see if his plan pans out like he says or not.”

Salmon, who turns 36 in August, has one year -- and $10 million -- left on his contract beyond this one. Mickey Hatcher, the Angels’ hitting instructor, said Salmon was not doomed to play out his contract on the bench.

“He’s still a hitter for me,” Hatcher said. “His swing is as good as I’ve ever seen it right now.... We want to try to keep guys healthy and have everybody ready to go for the stretch run. You’ll see him get a lot of at-bats before the year is over.

“Timmy can still play. He’s one of those guys that can still carry a club for a stretch. That time will come for him again.”