Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004 | 7:55 a.m.
For the first time in over three months, the Angels are back in first place.
After Anaheim's 8-2 victory at Texas on Tuesday night and Oakland's 7-2 home loss to Ichiro Suzuki and the Mariners, the Angels and A's have identical 89-68 records and share the AL West lead.
That's where the similarities end.
Anaheim has won four in a row. Oakland dropped six of eight. Vladimir Guerrero is heating up, while the A's prestigious pitching staff is breaking down.
Last-place Seattle pounded out 11 hits and seven runs against Tim Hudson, just the latest Oakland pitcher to struggle this September. Meanwhile, Kelvim Escobar had his way with a dangerous Rangers lineup that still has hopes of claiming a playoff spot.
Guerrero homered twice and went 4-for-5 with five RBIs Tuesday to help the Angels move into first place in the AL West for the first time since June 8. The A's spent 53 days alone on top.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia played down the accomplishment.
"This thing can change momentum in a heartbeat. There's no reason to put too much stock in where we are," Scioscia said. "The challenge is in front of us, and the opportunity is in front of us also."
In other AL games, it was: Boston 10, Tampa Bay 8 in 11 innings; Cleveland 5, Kansas City 1; and Detroit 6, Chicago 4. The games between Minnesota and New York, and Toronto and Baltimore were postponed because of rain and will be made up as part of doubleheaders on Wednesday.
At Arlington, Texas, Escobar (11-12) coasted through six innings, allowing just two runs and three hits. Chan Ho Park (3-7) lasted just 4 2-3 innings and couldn't keep the Rangers from falling three games out in the West.
"Chan Ho wasn't sharp enough to be facing a team like this," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said.
Garret Anderson and Dallas McPherson also homered for the Angels, who have two games left in Texas before a season-ending, three-game series in Oakland.
At Seattle, Suzuki had two hits off Hudson (12-6) to move within three of tying George Sisler's 84-year-old record of 257 hits in a season. But it was the Mariners callups who did most of the damage.
Greg Dobbs had two hits and two RBIs, and Jeremy Reed had three hits and drove in a run.
"We're not Supermen out there," Hudson said. "All those darn September callups, that's our kryptonite, I guess. Five games left and we're all knotted up. We need to win three of five and (the Angels) need to lose three of five."
Gil Meche (7-6) won his third straight decision to beat the A's for the first time.
Red Sox 10, Devil Rays 8, 11 innings
At St. Petersburg, Fla., Kevin Millar's two-out, two-run homer in the 11th inning pulled Boston within 2 1/2 games of the New York Yankees in the AL East.
The Red Sox, who clinched a playoff spot Monday, matched their win total for last season and have won 95 games in consecutive seasons for just the third time in franchise history.
David Ortiz doubled off Danys Baez (4-4) with two outs in the 11th. Millar followed with his 18th homer.
Ramiro Mendoza (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory. Keith Foulke got three outs for his 31st save.
Indians 5, Royals 1
At Kansas City, Mo., Ryan Ludwick, Ronnie Belliard and Casey Blake homered to help Cleveland hand Kansas City its 100th loss of the season.
Cliff Lee (13-8) retired 16 in a row at one point in 6 1-3 innings.
Darrell May (9-19) leads the major leagues in losses.
Tigers 6, White Sox 4
At Detroit, Eric Munson hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh off Neal Cotts (4-4).
Bobby Higginson reached base in all five plate appearances with a homer, double and three walks. Omar Infante also homered for the Tigers.
Paul Konerko hit his 41st homer, placing him in a tie for fourth on Chicago's single-season list.
Franklyn German (1-0) got the win in relief with two perfect innings, and Esteban Yan pitched the ninth for his seventh save.
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