Sports

FEELING SAFE AT HOME: ANGELS ANGLING TO MAKE ANAHEIM EDGE WORK OUT

ANAHEIM – It may be premature, but the Left Coast is smashed on talk of an Angels-Giants World Series. It didn’t matter the Angels entered last night’s ALCS Game 3 against the Twins tied, 1-1, in the best-of-seven series. Golden Staters were making plans for an all-California Fall Classic.

In order for that to happen, the Angels need to get by the Twins and the Giants can’t spit out their 2-0 lead over the Cardinals in the NLCS that shifts from St. Louis to San Francisco today.

Yet up and down the Pacific Coast, the only question was how long it would take for the teams to collect the required five wins for the first all California Series since the Giants played the A’s in 1989.

While there are signs that favor the Angels advancing, nothing was guaranteed when lefties Jarrod Washburn and Eric Milton faced off last night in Game 3 at Edison Field.

The Angels wore the underdog hat against the Yankees in the ALDS that they won in four games. But the Twins weren’t supposed to be in business when the season started so they have assumed the role of bigger underdog in this match up.

The Twins and the rest of baseball, especially the Yankees, understand the Angels aren’t just plucky, scrappy, pesky and annoying. They are good. They have Troy Percival, the best closer from the four teams still standing. They have a lineup that doesn’t strike out. They have played outstanding defense, something the Twins didn’t do in the first two games. And they are home for three games and a chance to avoid returning to the Metrodome where it’s never easy to win.

Edison Field isn’t considered to have one of the better home field advantages in baseball. But during the two ALDS games against the Yankees, the place took on the feel of Lincoln, Neb., on a Cornhusker football Saturday afternoon: Red shirts, red hats and red rubber 24-inch tubes that fans inflate and whack together.

“I think we played very consistent baseball all year,” said manager Mike Scioscia, whose club was 54-27 at Edison and tied with the A’s and Twins for the best home mark. “Virtually every team is going to have a better record at home than they are on the road.”

By beating the A’s twice in Oakland during the ALDS, including a decisive Game 5, the Twins showed the road doesn’t bother them. However, a few cold bats and shaky gloves are another story.

Leadoff hitter Jacque Jones was 0-for-9 in the ALCS and batting just .172 (5-for-29) in the postseason. Shortstop Cristian Guzman, the former Yankee stud prospect, made a Game 1 error that, while costly, didn’t kill the Twins. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski had a ball kicked out of his glove at home in Game 2 and rookie right fielder Michael Cuddyer’s lack of aggressiveness that same night had him on manager Ron Gardenhire’s bench last night.

Although he benched Cuddyer, Gardenhire defended Jones’ batting slump.

“Jacque Jones is my left fielder,” Gardenhire said, fully aware Jones batted .213 against lefties this season and is a .212 career hitter against them. “We put him out there against some of the toughest lefties in the league [A’s Barry Zito and Mark Mulder] and he is doing fine. He hasn’t got a hit in this series but he has been banging the ball around. You have to have faith in your lineup and what has gotten you here. I have faith in those guys. He is my guy and he will be my guy.”