Angels Do Job at Texas, and Then Do the Math

It doesn’t seem as if the Angels are really in a division race, but they are not out of one, either.

Their 7-6 victory over the Texas Rangers before 38,902 at The Ballpark in Arlington Saturday night, combined with Seattle’s loss to Oakland, pulled the Angels to within five games of the Mariners with seven games left.

The chances for an American League West title are remote--the Mariners must suffer a collapse of 1964 Philadelphia Phillie-like proportions for the Angels to have a chance--but at least Seattle’s magic number remained stuck at three.

“It’s definitely an uphill battle, but it’s not like it’s over, it’s not like Seattle has already won it,” said Angel reliever Mike James, who retired both batters he faced in the seventh inning. “They haven’t won anything yet.

“We were three games out with five to play in 1995 and came back to tie the Mariners, so it can be done. We’re going to battle until the end.”

The end became a battle for the Angels on Saturday when closer Troy Percival gave up a walk, two singles and a two-run single to Ivan Rodriguez, as the Rangers trimmed a three-run deficit to one in the bottom of the ninth.

But Percival struck out Rusty Greer on three pitches with the tying run on third for his 26th save.

Starter Dennis Springer, who gave up four runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings, won for the first time since Aug. 14, and the Angels took advantage of 10 Texas walks, two to Dave Hollins with the bases loaded.

“You walk that many people, you’re asking for trouble,” Manager Terry Collins said. “We’re hanging in there. All we can try to do is win [today]. This becomes the biggest game of the year.”

Juan Gonzalez’s three-run homer off Springer in the fourth and Domingo Cedeno’s run-scoring fielder’s choice in the sixth gave Texas a 4-2 lead Saturday, but the Angels stormed back with four runs in the seventh.

Gary DiSarcina, who singled and scored in the fifth, singled to open the seventh. Tony Phillips, who homered for the Angels’ first run in the third, walked, and Jim Edmonds singled to load the bases.

Garret Anderson followed with a liner to the gap in right-center, which dropped for an RBI single when Ranger outfielder Marc Sagmoen couldn’t make a diving catch.

Phillips scored on reliever Matt Whiteside’s wild pitch to tie the score, 4-4. Then Salmon walked to load the bases and Hollins walked to force in a run and make it 5-4. Luis Alicea followed Jack Howell’s fielder’s choice with a sacrifice fly to left, making it 6-4.

Ranger control problems continued in the eighth when Wilson Heredia walked four, including Hollins with the bases loaded, to give the Angels an insurance run that wound up being the winning run.

Springer was not especially sharp, but he walked only one and ended a five-week winless drought, a span covering seven starts.

“The only thing I did tonight was kept the team close enough to where we could win, and that’s what happened,” Springer said. “I kind of forgot what it felt like to win, but it seems like things even out. Sometimes you don’t pitch well and win, or you pitch well and you lose, but you always take a win when you can.”

The Angels will need to take a lot more wins to take the West.

“We’re treading water,” Springer said, “but it’s not over until the numbers say you’re out of it.”