Angels Overcome Karl and Overpower Toronto

The Colorado Rockies, who hoard healthy and productive pitchers with an almost religious fervor, dumped Scott Karl a week ago. Even with the Coors Field allowance for an inflated earned-run average, Karl did not pitch very well. He started nine games, won one and left town lugging a 7.68 ERA.

So the Angels picked him up and gave him a start Tuesday. He did not pitch very well. In fact, he did not pitch past the third inning. But the Angels won.

There can be only one conclusion: Never underestimate the power of the rally monkey.

The Angels spotted the Toronto Blue Jays a 4-0 lead, then pummeled the Jays for eight runs in a three-inning span of a 9-4 victory before 17,773 at Edison Field.

The Angels remained four games behind the first-place Seattle Mariners in the American League West, and three games behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL wild-card race.

Troy Glaus hit his 38th home run, one shy of Reggie Jackson’s franchise record. Mo Vaughn hit his 32nd. Adam Kennedy doubled home the deciding run, and Darin Erstad had three singles to join Alex Johnson as the only players in franchise history with a 200-hit season.

The fans saluted Erstad with a standing ovation. Erstad said he appreciated the cheers but pleaded indifference to the milestone.

“I didn’t sit at home in the off-season and say I’ll get 200 hits,” he said. “I don’t walk very much, so I need to get hits to get on base.”

Erstad hit 200 in 132 games, the fastest of any major leaguer since Joe Medwick collected 200 hits in 131 games for the 1935 St. Louis Cardinals.

“I’ve had 200 hits twice, but both times it took me until the last week of September,” Vaughn said. “To do it with a whole month of the season to go is a tremendous credit to him. He’s the most focused I’ve ever seen of any ballplayer I’ve ever played with.”

And how long did Manager Mike Scioscia take to get 200 hits when he played?

“Four years,” Scioscia said.

Erstad deflected the spotlight onto Lou Pote, the rookie who replaced Karl and stopped the bleeding. Pote pitched 3 1/3 innings of shutout relief, earning the victory.

“If he doesn’t put up those zeros, our uphill struggle might have been futile,” Scioscia said.

Mike Holtz, Al Levine, Shigetoshi Hasegawa and Troy Percival teamed for the final 10 outs, also scoreless, with Percival pitching the ninth inning in a non-save situation. After a sore elbow forced Percival onto the disabled list for three weeks, Scioscia plans to ease Percival back into his closing role. The Angels activated Percival Saturday, and he has pitched the ninth in two non-save situations.

By the ninth inning Tuesday, Karl was long gone--from the game, but not from the Angels’ plans.

Surely, a few months at Coors Field can make any pitcher look bad. And Karl deserves credit for winning at least 10 games for the Milwaukee Brewers in each of the previous four seasons.

Several intriguing veteran pitchers reportedly have cleared waivers and could be available in trade, including Chris Holt of the Houston Astros and Masato Yoshii of the Rockies. However, Scioscia indicated the Angels would extend Karl more of an opportunity than this one bad night.

“I don’t think we’re talking about one start,” Scioscia said. “He’s certainly a guy we know can help us this year and in the future.”

The guy may be out of Colorado, but his pitching was still rocky Tuesday.

Karl gave up nine hits and got seven outs, including a sacrifice bunt, a line drive and two fly balls that drove outfielders to the wall. He gave up five consecutive hits in the third inning, as a chorus of boos gradually increased from a murmur to a roar.

“I wish I could have given the team a better effort,” Karl said, “but our guys came back like world-beaters.”

So, then, he has heard of the rally monkey?

“I saw the [promotional] towels,” Karl said. “I’m still waiting for somebody to give me the full scoop.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

AL WEST RACE

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Team W L GB Seattle 72 60 -- Oakland 69 62 2 1/2 ANGELS 68 64 4

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WILD-CARD RACE

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Team W L GB Cleveland 69 59 -- Boston 69 60 1/2 Oakland 69 62 1 1/2 Toronto 69 63 2 ANGELS 68 64 3

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