Kennedy Has a Gift for Return

As Adam Kennedy trotted around the bases, another sellout crowd at Angel Stadium cheering his every step after his first career walk-off homer, it became increasingly apparent that the Angels are starting to recapture the magic of 2002.

Buoyed by the surprise return of Troy Glaus, the slugger widely counted out in May after he elected to undergo major shoulder surgery, the Angels slipped past the Minnesota Twins, 4-2, in the ninth inning Sunday afternoon when Glaus drew a one-out walk and scored on Kennedy’s two-run homer.

Glaus was among the throng of jubilant Angels who mobbed Kennedy at home plate after Kennedy clobbered reliever Juan Rincon’s full-count slider to right-center, giving the Angels their second walk-off homer of the season.

“The pitch was not what you would classify as a mistake by any means,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said of Rincon’s down-and-inside offering, “and Adam just went and got it and drove it out of the park.”

Kennedy has made a habit of coming up big against the Twins, having hit three homers in Game 5 of the 2002 American League championship series. His homer Sunday was critical for an Angel team that remained two games behind the Oakland Athletics in the AL West despite winning for the 10th time in 11 games.

“It was important to get this game today,” Kennedy said. “Hopefully, it will give us a big boost going into a big series against Boston.”

The Angels trail the Red Sox by 1 1/2 games in the wild-card standings heading into a three-game series beginning Tuesday at Fenway Park.

Glaus originally was expected to join the Angels in Boston on Wednesday. But after playing in his fifth rehabilitation game for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, he received permission from Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman to accelerate his return.

“I almost felt like I had been called back up from triple-A again,” said Glaus, who had trouble sleeping Saturday night. “I’m excited to get back in a stadium with three decks on it.”

Batting seventh for the first time this season, Glaus received a standing ovation in the second inning before his first at-bat as an Angel since May 11 at Yankee Stadium. Glaus lined out to left fielder Shannon Stewart and finished hitless in two at-bats, but he also drew two walks and helped set up the winning run in the ninth by forcing Rincon to pitch around him.

“They were careful with him,” Kennedy said of Glaus, who sat out 97 games. “Regardless of how long he’s been out, he can hurt you with one swing of the bat.”

Minnesota reliever Joe Roa was not as careful with Jose Guillen, allowing the Angels to score the tying run in the sixth. With Vladimir Guerrero on second base and one out, Roa tried to pitch around Guillen, throwing three consecutive fastballs off the plate.

But Roa’s 3-and-0 pitch came back over the outer half, and Guillen ripped it for a double to left-center to drive in his 100th run of the season and tie the score at 2-2.

Angel starter Kelvim Escobar, who struck out nine and retired the final nine batters he faced, set down the Twins in the seventh before reliever Francisco Rodriguez (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings.

Many of his teammates were outwardly thrilled about the early return of Glaus, who was leading the major leagues with 11 homers at the time of his injury.

“He’s been a big part of this team for quite a few years, and to have him back is obviously a bonus,” first baseman Darin Erstad said.

Said center fielder Garret Anderson: “It’s going to be unfair to expect him to do exactly what he did before he stopped playing. Whatever we get from him is fine. I’m just glad to have him back around.”

The Angels accommodated Glaus by putting Tim Salmon on the disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 24, because of inflammation in his left shoulder. The team made room for Glaus on the 40-man roster by designating minor league outfielder Barry Wesson for assignment.

Glaus said the biggest thrill was simply to be back in a major league environment after spending the previous 2 1/2 months rehabilitating his shoulder in the 100-degree heat of Phoenix.

“We’re professional ballplayers, we’re not professional rehabbers,” Glaus said. “We’re not professional sitting-around-the-house guys. We all appreciate what we have and what we’re given a chance to do. It hurts to be away. It hurts to not play.”

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AL Wild-Card Race

*--* W L GB Boston 76 53 -- ANGELS 75 55 1 1/2 Texas 73 56 3

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