Guerrero Powers Angels to the Top

It’s probably too late for Vladimir Guerrero to wrest that American League most-valuable-player trophy from Boston’s Manny Ramirez, for weeks the clear-cut favorite for the league’s premier award.

But the Angel right fielder has his sights on a bigger prize, his first-ever post-season berth, a reward that seems a whole lot more attainable after Guerrero’s MVP-like performance Tuesday night.

Guerrero had four two-out hits, including two home runs, and drove in five runs to lead the Angels to an 8-2 romp over the Texas Rangers in front of 26,686 in Ameriquest Field, moving the Angels into a first-place tie with Oakland atop the AL West with five games remaining.

For months, the Angels have chased the A’s, remaining tantalizingly close but never catching up, their pursuit growing even more futile in September, when Oakland stumbled and the Angels stubbed their toes as well.

But with Kelvim Escobar throwing six superb two-run, three-hit innings on three days’ rest, and Garret Anderson and Dallas McPherson each contributing home runs Tuesday night, the Angels gained a share of first place for the first time since June 8, exactly 100 games ago.

The Angels, who have won four in a row, all but eliminated the Rangers from playoff contention -- the best they can do is finish in a three-way tie. The Angels and A’s probably will determine the division champion in a three-game series in Oakland this weekend.

“You know when it’s going to matter? After Sunday’s ballgame,” Manager Mike Scioscia said, refusing to place any added significance to the Angels’ place in the standings. “This thing can change in a heartbeat. There’s no reason to put too much stock in where we are.”

That’s easier for Scioscia to say than Guerrero. Scioscia won two World Series rings as a catcher with the Dodgers and one in 2002 with the Angels. Guerrero toiled in baseball’s wasteland -- Montreal -- for the first seven years of his career, never even sniffing the playoffs.

But Guerrero is getting his first taste of a pennant race this season, and all it seems to have done is whet an already prodigious appetite for power. In 19 games since Sept. 9, Guerrero is batting .364 (24 for 66) with eight homers and 18 runs batted in.

He is batting .333 with 36 homers, 121 RBIs and 120 runs this season, and Tuesday night, he became the first Angel since Don Baylor in 1979 to notch at least 120 runs and 120 RBIs in the same season. Baylor won the AL MVP that season, the only Angel to ever do so.

“He’s been pretty consistent all year, but right now his power stroke is re-emerging,” Scioscia said. “It’s a great time for it.”

Not that he needs any added motivation, but Texas starter Chan Ho Park provided some Tuesday night, whizzing a first-inning fastball by Guerrero’s head. Guerrero responded by lining a home run to left. He added a run-scoring single against Park in the third, a single in the fifth and a three-run homer against John Wasdin in the sixth.

“I like it when they throw head shots at Vladdy, he really gets ready,” Escobar said. “It’s a big mistake. I’ve seen that many times this year, and then he hits a home run. When the dog is sleeping, don’t bother him.”

Teammates have marveled at Guerrero all season, about how hard he swings, about how he swings at almost everything, and how he can crush pitches outside the strike zone. Now that he appears to be locked in, he’s even more dangerous.

“When he’s swinging the bat like he did tonight, he might be a threat when he’s in the on-deck circle,” Scioscia said. “He’s got about as big a happy zone as any player I’ve ever seen.”

Added Escobar: “Vladdy has a ton of talent. I don’t think he has much of an approach. He just sees the ball and swings.”

It was a joy for Escobar to watch. The Angel right-hander had received the least support of any starter on the staff, 3.74 runs a game, but by the time he took the mound for the sixth inning, he had an 8-0 lead.

Escobar’s string of retiring 10 consecutive batters ended when he gave up a homer to Gerald Laird and a run-scoring groundout in the sixth. With a six-run cushion, Scioscia pulled Escobar, and Scot Shields (two innings) and Brendan Donnelly (one) completed the three-hitter. Escobar threw only 80 pitches, so he should be well-rested for his start in Oakland on Saturday.

“That’s definitely going to help me,” said Escobar, who improved to 11-12 and lowered his earned-run average to 3.86. “I can flush it out quicker and be ready for my next game in only three days.”