Angel Offense Finds a Groove Against Mets

The Angels have endured more stops and starts this season than a trucker spending an afternoon on the San Diego Freeway.

On Saturday, they opened the sunroof and pushed the pedal to the floor.

Brad Fullmer hit a grand slam, Garret Anderson homered twice and Darin Erstad made another highlight-reel catch as the Angels pounded the New York Mets, 13-3, before a sellout crowd of 43,449 at Edison Field.

The ever-charitable Mets also contributed to the onslaught by allowing Jason Roach to make his major-league debut and Jeromy Burnitz to start in center field. Roach gave up seven runs over three innings and Burnitz allowed three more in the fourth when he misplayed back-to-back fly balls hit his way.

The outfielder charged forward while attempting to snare a liner off the bat of Tim Salmon with two on and one out in the fourth, but the ball scooted past him to the wall, allowing David Eckstein and Erstad to score.

Salmon wound up at third and was credited with his third triple of the season.

The next batter, Anderson, hit a ball into center that appeared catchable but got past Burnitz again, allowing Salmon to jog home with the Angels’ 10th run of the game.

The run was truly a cause for celebration as it guaranteed fans free chicken wings at Hooters thanks to a promotion that kicks in whenever the Angels score in double-digits at home.

It was the first time the Angels had fed their fans since April 2.

The Angels received offensive contributions from nearly their entire lineup. Anderson went four for five, driving in four runs. Eckstein, Erstad and Scott Spiezio notched two hits apiece, and Fullmer’s grand slam in the third gave the Angels a 7-2 lead.

“At that point in the game, when you drop four runs on a guy like that, that hurts,” said Anderson, who recorded his second multi-homer game of the season. “Any time everybody chips in, that’s a good thing.”

The victory moved the Angels (34-31) back to within 9 1/2 games of Seattle in the American League West.

They could win their fifth consecutive series with a victory today, and they have to like their chances. Ace Jarrod Washburn is on the mound, opposed by the always hittable Steve Trachsel.

Angel starter Ramon Ortiz (7-5) recovered from a shaky beginning Saturday to record his third consecutive victory by giving up only five hits and three runs over seven innings.

He gave up two unearned runs in the second after third baseman Troy Glaus fielded a ground ball and threw it wide of catcher Jose Molina while trying to get Cliff Floyd at the plate.

Ortiz gave up only one more run over the next five innings and Glaus redeemed himself in the seventh by making a backhanded catch of a foul pop fly while leaning over the railing adjacent to the photographers’ well.

“The thing I liked about Ramon was he gave up a couple of runs early on the error but didn’t break,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.

“If he can maintain that, he’s going to have a lot of success.”

Francisco Rodriguez pitched two scoreless innings.

Erstad saved Angel pitchers a run for the second consecutive night with another fantastic diving catch.

Ty Wigginton was the victim this time, as his shot into the left-center field gap in the fourth found only the leather of Erstad’s glove.