Angels Have a Breakout Game

A hustling Darin Erstad slid home just ahead of the throw from Kevin Millar, even though Erstad hadn’t even reached third base when Millar fielded the ball in medium left field, and suddenly you got the feeling that maybe the breaks would go the Angels’ way this time.

A five-run fifth inning and another superb performance by left-hander Jarrod Washburn during the Angels’ 8-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night in front of a sellout crowd of 43,623 at Angel Stadium put the Angels on track for better things as they opened the second half.

“Last year, we finished the first half real strong, came out for the second half and fell on our face and the season went downhill from there,” said Washburn, who followed his first career shutout with seven quality innings. “So it’s good to get off on the right foot.”

The Angels opened the second half last season with a seemingly endless series of mishaps during a brutal stretch in which they lost 20 of 25 games to double their deficit from 8 1/2 games to 17 games in the American League West.

Their deficit isn’t nearly as daunting this time after Erstad had a two-run homer in the sixth and drove in three runs to help the Angels move to within two games of the division-leading Texas Rangers.

The Angels also are a half-game behind the Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics in the wild-card standings after notching their fourth consecutive win and sixth in seven games. They have won all three games against Boston this season, and they realize they might eventually have to battle the Red Sox for a playoff berth even though they remain focused on winning the division.

“It’s important to come out and make a statement against a team we’re competing against for the playoffs,” said Washburn, who gave up an unearned run and extended his stretch of innings without giving up an earned run to 16.

Chone Figgins capped the Angels’ big fifth with a two-run single up the middle, but the sight of Erstad charging home was perhaps the most indelible image. Erstad had driven in Jose Guillen with the go-ahead run on a double to left-center before coming home on Bengie Molina’s two-out single to left.

Alan Embree then relieved ineffective starter Derek Lowe but fared no better, giving up a single to Adam Kennedy, a run-scoring double to David Eckstein and a single to Figgins that put the Angels ahead, 6-1.

That was more than enough support for Washburn (10-4), who has received an average of 7.3 runs in his 18 starts. Washburn gave up three hits, walked two, struck out three and escaped a one-out jam in the fifth with runners on second and third.

“When it’s all said and done, if we’re where we want to be, it’s going to be because of our starting pitching,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “If we’re not, it’s going to be because of our starting pitching.”

Said Washburn: “I don’t disagree with that statement at all.... If the starting pitching puts the team in a hole, it’s hard to win games. Our offense is great, but you can’t expect them to carry the club. Pitching is where championships are won.”

Erstad, who has a nine-game hitting streak, wasn’t around for much of the Angels’ second-half swoon last season after being sidelined in early August because of a recurrence of tendinitis in his right hamstring. The Angels also lost third baseman Troy Glaus when he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in early July.

“Within a couple of weeks, you’re looking at some real key guys in your lineup that are out,” Scioscia said before the game.

“At this point, we’re healthier, we’re deeper, and I think that’s going to help us to maybe absorb some injuries as we move forward. We’re in much better shape making the turn this year than we were last year.”

The Angel offense certainly appears to be in better shape after banging out 16 hits and batting around in an inning for the 13th time this season.

Figgins also drove in three runs for a team that is averaging eight runs and 12 hits in its last seven games.