Angels Look Deep

Adam Kennedy checked the lineup on his way into the Angel clubhouse Monday, saw his name in the usual No. 9 spot and went about his business of preparing for the Texas Rangers.

Not until it was brought to his attention did the second baseman realize the Angels would open a four-game series against their closest challengers in the American League West without four starters: shortstop Orlando Cabrera, third baseman Dallas McPherson, catcher Bengie Molina and center fielder Steve Finley.

“I didn’t even notice,” Kennedy said. “We have a lot of confidence in everyone here, so it doesn’t matter who’s in the lineup. You can’t expect Vladdy [Guerrero] and [Garret Anderson] to do it every day. We have great depth, and that takes a lot of pressure off everyone.”

Except Angel opponents, who are beginning to feel like Hercules trying to slay the Hydra. Cut one head off the monster and two more appear.

Getting significant contributions from bench players Juan Rivera, Maicer Izturis, Jeff DaVanon and Jose Molina as well as from Texas bash brothers Guerrero and Bartolo Colon, the Angels crushed the Rangers, 13-3, on Monday night, pushing their win streak to seven and their lead over Texas to 7 1/2 games.

On a steamy, 95-degree night in Ameriquest Field, the Angels tied a season high with 20 hits, including home runs by Guerrero and Kennedy, the latter’s first of the season. They also had a season-high seven doubles and scored in seven innings.

Colon, with Jose Molina behind the plate, gave up three runs and eight hits in eight efficient innings, striking out five and walking none, to extend his win streak over the Rangers to 10 and improve to 10-4 with a 3.02 earned run average this season, a first half that will warrant All-Star consideration.

In addition to his 12th homer, Guerrero had two run-scoring doubles and has hit in all 28 of his games against the Rangers, a stretch in which the 2004 AL most valuable player is batting .431 (50 for 116) with 11 homers and 24 RBIs. Why the Rangers even bother pitching to Guerrero is baffling.

“What Vladdy does is amazing,” Kennedy said. “He’s fun to watch. I’m glad he’s on my team.”

It also doesn’t hurt having guys such as Rivera, who started at designated hitter and had three doubles and a single, scoring twice and driving in a run; DaVanon, who started in center field and had three hits and two runs; and Izturis, who replaced Cabrera and had two hits, including a two-run single in the fourth that gave the Angels a 5-0 lead.

“Those guys have to take advantage of opportunities, and that’s what they’re doing,” said Angel first baseman Darin Erstad, who had two doubles and three runs. “I can’t imagine that role, just sitting there, not playing; then you play and you have to produce. I tip my hat to them. They’re awesome.”

The Angels scored three runs against rookie left-hander C.J. Wilson in the first, two in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth, providing Colon with more than enough support. Not that the right-hander needs it against the Rangers.

Colon went 6-0 with a 2.14 ERA against the Rangers last season and is 3-0 with a 3.05 ERA against them this season. He needed only 87 pitches -- 66 were strikes -- to complete eight innings Monday night and remained in the game despite absorbing a hard one-hopper from Gerald Laird in the fifth inning. Only Hank Blalock, who hit a two-run homer in the fourth and a solo shot in the sixth, gave him any trouble.

“The most difficult team I face is the Rangers,” Colon said through an interpreter. “They make me elevate my game.”

The Angels have elevated their game in June, and at 46-29, they’ve matched their best record in club history after 75 games. They gained eight games on the Rangers in three weeks and are threatening to run away with the division. Not that they pay any attention to the standings.

“We don’t get ahead of ourselves,” Kennedy said. “We don’t think what we did is going to carry over to [today]. We just try to come out and do the same thing.... But any lead is really good against Texas, because they’re going to play great baseball until the last day.”

The Rangers, who have lost seven of eight, better start soon.

“This is going to stop,” Ranger designated hitter David Dellucci said. “These guys are going to cool off. We have to remember that and be ready to make a run when they do.”