Lackey Produces a Sound Effort

John Lackey had another blowup Sunday, but this one didn’t occur on the mound or lead to another big inning or cost the Angels a game against the Minnesota Twins.

It came as he walked to the dugout after the second inning, when Lackey screamed an obscenity loud enough to be heard way up the Metrodome bleachers after his errant pick-off throw allowed Jacque Jones to go to third. Jones then scored on Mike Redmond’s weak grounder to second.

“You can probably figure out what I said,” Lackey said. “I was really upset that I didn’t strike out Redmond.”

If this is what qualifies as a meltdown for Lackey, the Angels will take it. Lackey, whose fiery nature has caused him to self-destruct at times, was as composed throughout Sunday’s game as he was emotional after the second inning, giving up one unearned run and seven hits in seven innings of the Angels’ 2-1 victory over the Twins.

Mixing a changeup he began to hone in spring training with his 93-mph fastball and curve, Lackey tied a career high with 10 strikeouts and now ranks third in the American League with 118 strikeouts, behind Minnesota’s Johan Santana (146) and New York’s Randy Johnson (127).

Jeff DaVanon, who has had to adjust to a diminished role, took advantage of a start in right field by hitting a two-run homer against starter Joe Mays in the second inning, and Lackey and relievers Scot Shields (three batters in the eighth) and Francisco Rodriguez (three batters in the ninth for his 20th save) made it stand up.

Despite a void in the middle of their lineup -- Nos. 3 and 4 hitters Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson combined to go two for 26 in the series -- the Angels won three of four games against the Twins, all by one run. Eight of the 10 games between the teams this season have been decided by one run, and all six of the Angel victories over the Twins were by one run.

“Obviously, [Guerrero and Anderson] are our main guys, so to beat a quality team without them doing what they usually do is a good sign,” first baseman Darin Erstad said. “It all starts with pitching, and we pitched fantastic in this series.”

Lackey, who was roughed up for 16 earned runs in 18 1/3 innings of his previous three starts, two losses and a no-decision, set the tone Sunday when, with two on and one out in the first inning, he struck out cleanup hitter Justin Morneau with a changeup and got Torii Hunter to ground to short on a good cut-fastball.

DaVanon drove Mays’ 3-and-1 changeup into the right-field seats in the second inning for his second home run this season, and after the Twins cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the second, Lackey was dominant, allowing only four base-runners.

He also showed poise in the fifth and seventh innings, after outfielders Steve Finley and Anderson committed two-out errors, allowing two Twins who had singled to take second. But Lackey retired Shannon Stewart to end the fifth and Nick Punto to end the seventh.

“We made some mistakes behind him, but he got back on the mound and minimized damage,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “The key to John’s success is channeling his emotions in a positive direction, which is the next pitch. He’s going to be emotional, but it’s what he does with those emotions that is important.”

So is what he does with his expanding repertoire. Lackey rarely threw a changeup in his first three seasons; now it’s an out pitch.

“I’ve always had a good breaking ball, but showing the changeup more has made my fastball better,” said Lackey, who improved to 7-4 with a 3.97 earned-run average. “I’ve been able to freeze some guys with my fastball.”

Along with changing speeds, mound presence has been a key for Lackey.

“I’ve been here for a couple years, so maturity is a factor,” Lackey, 26, said. “I’m still intense, but I’m learning to channel it better.”

It shows.

“I wouldn’t say Lackey’s stuff is better, but you can tell he’s in control, that he’s maturing,” Erstad said. “When he gets in tough situations he steps back and assesses the situation instead of going out there and throwing. It’s great to be competitive, but sometimes that can be your worst enemy. He’s learning to control it.”