Angels Move One Game Out of First

On a day of somber remembrance of the terrorist attacks that changed the world a year ago, the Angels gave their appreciative fans many reasons to celebrate.

In what felt like a massive and mutual healing session, the Angels rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday at Edison Field and ended a day of sorrow with cheers and smiles. Shawn Wooten’s two-out double in the seventh inning scored Garret Anderson and Scott Spiezio with the tying and winning runs, and the Angel bullpen did its job admirably in closing out the team’s 12th triumph in 13 games.

The Angels moved within one game of the division-leading A’s--creating a first-place showdown tonight in their series finale--and increased their lead over Seattle to six games in what is supposed to be a race for the wild-card berth. The Angels’ magic number to clinch their first playoff berth since 1986 is 12: Any combination of Angel victories and Seattle losses equaling 12 will put the Angels in postseason play.

Seattle hasn’t gained ground on the Angels for 16 consecutive days, since Aug. 26.

The paid crowd of 34,302, which was bolstered by about 8,000 complimentary tickets received through a season-ticket exchange program, delighted in watching the Angels pound Oakland pitchers for 14 hits. Fans waved American flags, star-spangled bandanas and patriotic placards, glad of a joyous event on a day that will be linked with tragedy.

“That was awesome--a packed house,” Wooten said. “It seemed like a playoff game. I’ve never been in one, but I assume that’s what it would be like.”

Said Angel Manager Mike Scioscia: “Woot is a guy we wanted to give a few more at-bats. It’s a good time for him to step up. He really gave us a big lift.”

The A’s had won 23 of their previous 25 games.

The Angel bullpen worked 4 2/3 innings and did not allow a hit. Scot Shields (4-3) relieved John Lackey and pitched 2 2/3 innings.

“We were able to put a lot of pressure on them every inning and our bullpen came through again,” Scioscia said. “We earned every piece of that.”

Troy Percival pitched the ninth for his 37th save.

“The fans really pulled me through that last inning,” Percival said. “I was running on vapor. They gave me a little extra.”

Lackey worked out of a jam in the first but was tagged for four runs in the third inning, all with two out.

Scott Hatteberg singled to right, and Miguel Tejada lined a 3-and-2 pitch into the gap in right-center. Hatteberg slid home barely ahead of the throw, while Tejada took third.

Lackey got two quick strikes on Eric Chavez, but the Oakland third baseman battled back with a single to right, scoring Tejada. Chavez trotted home on Jermaine Dye’s 19th home run of the season, a blast into the family section in left field.

Cory Lidle faltered in the fourth, and the Angels pounced. While fans created a blizzard effect by waving the Sept. 11 commemorative T-shirts they had received, the Angels scored four runs, tying the score and earning a spontaneous standing ovation.

Brad Fullmer began the surge with a double to center. Spiezio sent him home with an opposite-field single to left. Wooten followed with a double to center, sending Spiezio to third. Spiezio scored on Bengie Molina’s sacrifice fly to deep center, on which Wooten tagged and went to third.

Adam Kennedy then looped the ball into short left, off the glove of the diving Tejada. Wooten scored, and Kennedy ended up at second. Kennedy advanced to third on a wild pitch with David Eckstein at bat, and he scored when Eckstein tapped a perfect bunt up the third-base line.

The crowd roared as Eckstein returned to the dugout and was greeted by high-fives from his jubilant teammates.

Their joy was dampened in the fifth inning, when Oakland pushed a run across to regain the lead, 5-4.

Ray Durham walked, stole second and moved to third on Hatteberg’s grounder to the right side. He scored on Tejada’s single to left, a milestone hit for the Oakland shortstop. It was Tejada’s 187th hit of the season, tying the Oakland Athletics’ record set by Jose Canseco in 1988.

The Angels wasted a fine chance to pull even in the fifth.

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The Races

*--* AL WEST W L GB Oakland 91 54 -- Angels 90 55 1 Seattle 84 61 7

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*--* AL WILD CARD W L GB Angels 90 55 -- Seattle 84 61 6 Boston 82 62 7 1/2

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