The Seventh Is Heavenly for Angels

For all of Vladimir Guerrero’s heroics during his most valuable player season in 2004, it was seldom-used Curtis Pride who provided what may have been the Angels’ biggest hit of the season.

Pride, who began 2004 in an independent league, roped a game-tying, two-out, run-scoring double in the top of the ninth inning off Texas closer Francisco Cordero on Sept. 29 to propel the Angels toward an extra-inning victory that pushed them into sole possession of first place with four games remaining.

If the Angels win their second consecutive division title, they may look back at Jose Molina’s clutch hit Wednesday night in Angel Stadium with just as much reverence.

Molina, a .224-hitting reserve catcher known more for his defensive skills than his offensive prowess, grounded a two-out, pinch-hit, two-run single to center field to cap a dramatic four-run rally in the seventh inning, and the Angels held on to beat the Rangers, 6-5.

Robb Quinlan added a pinch-hit single in the seventh, and Orlando Cabrera had the other huge hit, a two-run single that trimmed the deficit to one.

Struggling reliever Scot Shields, setting a franchise record with his 73rd appearance, struck out two in a scoreless eighth, and closer Francisco Rodriguez got the dangerous Mark Teixeira to ground out to first baseman Darin Erstad for the final out with the potential tying run at third base for his 40th save.

With Oakland losing to Minnesota earlier Wednesday, the Angels increased their American League West lead over the A’s to 2 1/2 games with 11 games left. The Angels have won five in a row and improved to 86-65, the first time this season they’ve been 21 games over .500.

“That’s got to be the biggest hit in my career, or at least one of them,” Jose Molina said. “I just feel happy we got the win and gained ground on the A’s. I didn’t care who got the winning hit.”

The Rangers had broken a 2-2 tie when Hank Blalock, who had one home run in 42 games since Aug. 7, blasted a John Lackey fastball into the right-field seats for a two-run homer in the sixth inning and Michael Young led off the seventh with a solo home run off reliever Brendan Donnelly for a 5-2 lead.

But Bengie Molina sparked the rally in the bottom of the seventh with a one-out single to right off Joaquin Benoit, and Quinlan, batting for Adam Kennedy, kept the inning alive with a two-out single to center off left-hander C.J. Wilson.

Chone Figgins singled to right to load the bases, and Texas Manager Buck Showalter summoned Scott Feldman to face Cabrera, who greeted the right-hander with a two-run single, pulling the Angels within 5-4.

With runners on first and second, Showalter ordered an intentional walk to Vladimir Guerrero to load the bases. Showalter then summoned left-hander Brian Shouse to face Angel left-hander Casey Kotchman, who was batting cleanup in place of the injured Garret Anderson.

But Manager Mike Scioscia went to his bench again for Jose Molina, who grounded a single through Shouse’s legs and into center to score two runs and give the Angels a 6-5 lead.

“Coming off the bench, you don’t have a chance to show your skills every day,” Jose Molina said. “You get a chance to win the game and you do it.... It’s an amazing feeling. Down three runs, to come back and win, that will give us a big lift.”

There was a scary moment in the fourth inning when Guerrero smashed a wicked liner off the right side of Ranger starter Kameron Loe’s head. That Loe was able to walk off the field -- instead of being carried off on a gurney -- seemed remarkable.

The ball was driven so hard that Loe couldn’t get his glove or hand up in time to deflect it, and with such force that it caromed on a line to Young, who made the catch at shortstop for the out.

Loe was pulled in favor of right-hander Josh Rupe and taken to Anaheim Memorial Hospital for a CT scan, which was normal. He returned to the clubhouse by the end of the game and had a large contusion just above his right eye.

“It didn’t hurt when he hit it; I knew exactly what was going on,” Loe said. “I was more shocked. I took a line drive off the head from Vladdy Guerrero and looked back to see Mikey catch the ball. It was a little bit more than a glancing blow, but it didn’t hit me square.... I’m just glad to be standing here.”