Angels’ Mickey Is No Mouse

A strike that killed their playoff chances might have seemed appropriate for the Angels, given their long and sad history of postseason misfortune.

But with the threat of a strike removed by Friday morning’s agreement between players and owners, the Angels returned to the field to write what they hope will be a new and happier chapter.

Angel starter Mickey Callaway carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and his teammates pounded Baltimore Oriole pitching for 10 hits, carrying the Angels to a 6-2 rout before an energetic crowd of 29,959 at Edison Field. Callaway, called up from triple-A Salt Lake City, pitched six-plus innings to earn his second major league victory and his first since June 12, 1999, when he was with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

“It’s been a while in between,” he said, “and it’s not going to be that long in between for the next one.”

The victory, coupled with the Seattle Mariners’ 5-1 loss to Kansas City, boosted the Angels’ lead in the wild card race to 1 1/2 games over Seattle. They remained 3 1/2 games behind the AL West-leading Oakland A’s, who won their 16th consecutive game.

Callaway, a 27-year-old right-hander, made his first start Aug. 25 at Boston. On Friday, he held the Orioles without a hit until Geronimo Gil’s one-out single to right in the sixth. He pitched into the seventh before being relieved by Brendan Donnelly.

“I felt great those first five innings,” Callaway said. “I got a little bit away from the gameplan. I’ve got to get us further into the game and rest the bullpen. I have to learn off of this.”

While Oriole starter Jason Johnson (4-11) struggled, the Angels capitalized on his unsteadiness for two runs in the first inning.

David Eckstein led off with a single to center. He was out at second on Darin Erstad’s fielder’s choice grounder, but Johnson walked Orlando Palmeiro to put runners on first and second. Garret Anderson was retired on a fly to left, but Troy Glaus walked to load the bases.

Scott Spiezio drove in the first run with a roller to third, handcuffing Oriole third baseman Tony Batista and leaving him with no play. Spiezio’s infield hit loaded the bases again, leaving Johnson no place to put Brad Fullmer after hitting the Angel designated hitter on the right leg with a pitch. That brought Palmeiro home from third. Bengie Molina ended the inning by lofting a fly to right.

The Angels added two runs in the fourth, to the delight of a crowd that seemed to have forgiven and forgotten all its angst over a possible strike.

Fullmer began the flurry with an infield hit. He was running when Molina lined a single to right-center and was able to reach third. He scored on Adam Kennedy’s single to right, which moved Molina to second.

Eckstein followed with his third hit of the game, a single to left that loaded the bases. Erstad hit a comebacker to the mound, but Johnson’s only play was to first, allowing Molina to score.

After Palmeiro hit a fly to center, the Orioles intentionally walked Anderson. The strategy worked when Glaus hit a harmless fly to center.

Erstad padded the lead to 5-0 in the sixth inning, with a one-out homer to right, his ninth home run of the season.

By then, Callaway had lost his no-hitter.

With one out in the sixth, Gil lined a single down the right-field line. The fans, in tribute and consolation, gave Callaway warm applause that grew into a mini-standing ovation. They were deflated when Mike Bordick launched a 1-and-2 pitch into the left-field seats for his sixth home run of the season, but exulted after Callaway struck out Melvin Mora and got Jerry Hairston to hit a comebacker to the mound.

Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said Callaway has earned the right to stay in the rotation.

“The way he’s pitching and where we are in the season, he’s going to get that opportunity,” Scioscia said. “If he keeps pitching the way he’s been, he’s going to give us a big lift.”

Scott Schoeneweis came on in the eighth with two runners on base and earned his first major league save.