Angels run down Athletics

It’s not as good as that ball bouncing off the head of outfielder Jose Canseco and into the stands, but the video ought to be amusing anyway: The Angels tagged out Eric Chavez after a relay in which one of their throws bounced off Chavez’s helmet.

The play was good for a laugh -- ace John Lackey called it “a snowball fight” -- and good for a victory too. With a crucial assist from that unusual 2-5-6-2 rundown and seven strong innings from Lackey, the Angels beat the Oakland Athletics, 2-1, on Saturday.

The Angels are 5-1, tied for the best start in club history. It’s a nice week and nothing more, but then again the Angels never got above .500 for good last season until after the All-Star break.

“The first half last year cost us the playoffs,” Lackey said. “We need to play well from the get-go.”

The Angels, built upon a foundation of pitching, lead the American League with a 2.00 earned-run average. On Saturday, they closed out a one-run game against their fiercest division rivals while giving their closer a day off.

Francisco Rodriguez had thrown 43 pitches over the previous two days, and Justin Speier had thrown 40 on Friday, so Manager Mike Scioscia said the two would be unavailable “unless something happens during the 17th inning.”

So Hector Carrasco pitched a perfect eighth inning -- the foundation includes a $3-million salary for the Angels’ No. 4 reliever -- and Scot Shields earned the save by taming the A’s on eight pitches in the ninth.

Vladimir Guerrero, who leads the majors with 10 runs batted in, delivered a sacrifice fly in the third inning for the Angels’ first run. Garret Anderson -- who coaches and teammates say is running as if he were five years younger -- legged out a double in the sixth inning, putting himself into position to score on a throwing error by shortstop Marco Scutaro.

Then came the feisty seventh inning, with the Angels protecting a 2-1 lead. Chavez led off with a double, and Lackey hit Nick Swisher in the back with an 0-and-2 fastball. Swisher glared at Lackey and took a couple steps in his direction, then backed off as catcher Mike Napoli and plate umpire Dale Scott escorted him to first base.

“He didn’t say anything,” Lackey said. “I think he realized there was no way I would try to hit him there.”

Said Scioscia: “He’s a competitor, but there’s absolutely no intent there. It was obvious there was no intent there.”

Swisher did not make himself available for comment.

Mark Ellis then missed a bunt, and Napoli caught Chavez between bases. He started the weird play by throwing to third base and ended it by blocking third base.

Napoli threw to third baseman Maicer Izturis, who ran Chavez toward second base. Izturis then threw that way, but his throw caromed off the helmet of Chavez, and directly toward shortstop Orlando Cabrera.

By that time, Napoli had headed toward third base. When Chavez reversed course and headed that way too, Cabrera threw to Napoli, who applied the tag. The A’s never put another runner in scoring position.

“Once I saw the ball hit Chavez in the helmet, I didn’t like our chances,” Lackey said with a grin.

Said Scioscia: “There’s got to be an easier way to do it. But we got it done.”

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bill.shaikin@latimes.com