ANGELS : Howell, Hill, Venable Sit Comfortably, Then Make a Name for Themselves

Sunday was a big day for the Angels’ SCUD squad.

Outfielder Dave Gallagher coined the nickname SCUD (Sitting Comfortably Until Deployed) for the team’s reserves. Although Gallagher didn’t play Sunday, Jack Howell, Donnie Hill and Max Venable--the heart of the squad--upheld the group’s honor.

Howell’s two-run home run was the biggest achievement, but Venable was two for four and Hill went one for four.

“We’re just trying to have a little fun,” said Venable, who singled and scored on Howell’s homer. “You just want to take advantage of the opportunity when you get it. Jack hit the ball well, I got a couple of hits--you’ve got to get us SCUDs in there sometime.”

The Angels have won seven consecutive series, five of them after losing the opener. . . . They were 62 for 221 (.281) on the road trip. . . . The Angels (28-21) are seven games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 1989 season. . . . Third baseman Gary Gaetti sat out Sunday, only the second game he’s missed this season. He leads the team in games played, with 47 . . . Luis Polonia’s third-inning infield hit increased his batting average with runners in scoring position and two out to .500 (13 for 26).

Mark Eichhorn, who recorded the final two outs Sunday to preserve Jim Abbott’s victory, said he owed Abbott a successful conclusion. Abbott left runners on first and second, but Eichhorn didn’t allow either to score. “I wanted to make sure Abbie’s runs didn’t score,” Eichhorn said. “I painted him with a loss earlier in the year (April 22 against Seattle). “He’s really been doing a great job. If those two runs score, the game might have gotten too close.”