Hudler, Boskie Are All Angels Need, 12-2

The right knee of his pants was ripped beyond repair. His jersey was caked with sweat and dirt. Eye black was smudged onto his cheeks. His hair was matted.

Rex Hudler was a sight to behold after the Angels’ 12-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox before 23,828 at Anaheim Stadium on Sunday.

“I got a little carried away today,” he said.

Hudler singled in the first inning, beat out a grounder in the third, singled in the fifth, singled in the sixth and homered in the seventh. Five hits in five at-bats.

“Today, I was concerned with playing good defense in center field,” said Hudler, who filled in for Jim Edmonds, who suffered a pulled stomach muscle Saturday. “I wanted to get on base a couple of times so the sluggers could drive me in. I just got carried away.”

Sunday was Hudler’s first five-hit game and his homer established a personal best, nine for a season.

“Once, I went five for five when I played in Japan, but I don’t think even my mother knew about that,” Hudler said. “She’ll be watching SportsCenter [Sunday night], though.”

Hudler’s day overshadowed Shawn Boskie’s 10 strikeouts and two-run homers by Chili Davis and Garret Anderson.

Boskie’s victory pushed his record to 6-1 and enabled the Angels to win two of three from Boston, the first time they won a series from the Red Sox at Anaheim Stadium since 1993.

“I never had a game where I could put a guy away like I could today,” said Boskie, who gave up six hits and one run without walking a batter in seven of his finest innings as an Angel.

Said Hudler: “I’m proud of Shawn Boskie. We need a right-hander to step up like that. This was a good win for us.”

After all, the Angels went into the series having lost nine in a row to Boston, dating to last season.

Hudler took matters into his hands.

After hitting his seventh-inning home run, he trotted to his position and was greeted with a standing ovation by the fans in the right-center field bleachers. Quickly, he flexed his muscles like a weightlifter.

“I love the fans all over the country--not just here, but all over the country,” Hudler said. “I call myself an entertainer because I am. Every guy in here is. I give 100% for the fans, my manager and my teammates.

“It’s just a wonderful opportunity. I’m very thankful.

“It’s a pleasure to entertain thousands of people. I feel sorry for the guys who don’t enjoy it. To perform in front of all those people is a thrill.”

The Angels are getting a kick from watching Hudler. They have been desperately seeking the sort of spark Hudler provides. Sunday’s homer was his fifth in the last six games he has played.

If there is a strain on his 35-year-old body from starting seven of the last eight, it’s not showing.

“He did a great job,” Edmonds said. “He seems to be able to do it in every position he plays--that’s the amazing thing.”

Edmonds paused a moment, then added: “I wish I had played. I could have used the five hits.”

In between questions about his strikeouts and his early season success, even Boskie fielded one concerning Hudler.

“That was awesome,” Boskie said. “He keeps going out there and doing that stuff.”

This one was close only until the Angels began to tee off on Boston starter Vaughn Eshelman in a five-run sixth inning that broke the game open. The Angels sent 11 batters to the plate, knocking Eshelman (0-2) out of the game and turning a 4-1 lead into a 9-1 advantage.

Eshelman’s earned-run average dropped from 81.00 to 15.88, which was either good news or bad depending on your viewpoint.