Guerrero Recovers in Angel Win

For about an inning there, it looked as if Vladimir Guerrero’s first error as an Angel might be more memorable than any of his early season home runs.

The right fielder parked himself under Eric Munson’s fly ball after a short run in the sixth inning only to watch the ball carom off the edge of his glove, allowing two runs to score and the Detroit Tigers to extend their lead to four runs.

As usual though, Guerrero’s bat got in the last word as the Angels rallied for an 11-9 victory Monday night before 33,683 at Angel Stadium.

Guerrero drove in the tying run in the seventh with a single up the middle and Troy Glaus followed with a two-run homer into the Angel bullpen in left for the Angels, who tied their season mark for the biggest deficit overcome in a victory.

“He got the big hit to tie us up,” shortshop David Eckstein said of Guerrero. “That just shows the quality of player he is.”

Bengie Molina drove in three runs and closer Troy Percival pitched out of a ninth-inning mess and the Angels won their third consecutive game to remain one game behind the Texas Rangers in the American League West.

Reliever Scot Shields gave up three runs in the ninth before Percival got the final two outs for his eighth save.

The Angels continued to torment former teammate Al Levine, who gave up the decisive runs in the seventh. Levine has surrendered nine hits and six runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief against the Angels this season.

Bartolo Colon delivered another less-than-spectacular start for the Angels, allowing 10 hits and six runs, four earned, in six innings but was picked up by three shutout innings from the bullpen.

Kevin Gregg, who pitched a scoreless seventh, got his first victory of the season and lowered his earned-run average to 0.40.

“He wasn’t able to repeat pitches like I know he can,” Manager Mike Scioscia said of Colon. “His command wasn’t where it needs to be, but he kept us in the game.”

Trailing, 6-2, the Angels rallied with three runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to take control. After the Angels chased Detroit starter Mike Maroth in the sixth by loading the bases on two walks and a double, Molina greeted Levine with a two-run single through the left side of the infield.

One out later, Adam Kennedy singled through the left side to make it 6-5.

Darin Erstad got things started for the Angels in the seventh when his bloop double down the left-field line fell among three Tigers. Erstad went to third base on Chone Figgins’ sacrifice bunt and scored on Guerrero’s single that tied the score, 6-6. Glaus then put the Angels ahead to stay with his team-leading eighth homer.

The Angels padded their lead in the eighth thanks to two Detroit errors, including a throw into center field by reliever Danny Patterson when he appeared to have Figgins easily out going to second base.

The Tigers’ big lead was courtesy of Ivan Rodriguez’s two-run homer in the first, RBI singles by Alex Sanchez in the second and Carlos Guillin in the sixth and Guerrero’s two-run error.

“I got to the ball and I don’t know what happened,” Guerrero said. “I have no excuses.”

Said Scioscia: “Vlad was more upset with that error than with anything that happened until this point of the season. But we kept swinging the bats tonight and we needed every one of those runs.”