Outside Chances Good for Angels

Dome or home, synthetic grass or the real stuff, the Angels believe their surroundings will matter less than their mind-set when the American League championship series resumes tonight at Edison Field.

Having split the first two games in the Minnesota Twins’ house of horrors known as the Metrodome, the Angels returned to the friendly confines of green grass and blue sky Thursday, knowing they can take command of the best-of-seven series over the next three games, all at home. But who they are and how they play, Manager Mike Scioscia said, will matter more than where they are.

“Our thing all year has been to bring our game wherever we play,� he said. “Even if we were up, 2-0, it wouldn’t change the way we go about our business. Or if we were 0-2. We’ll take it one game at a time, and let you [reporters] add ‘em up.�

The numbers add up favorably for the Angels, who will face left-hander Eric Milton tonight.

The Angels, who won both of their division series home games against the Yankees, defeated Milton twice this season and were 30-16 against left-handed starters. In addition, Angel starter Jarrod Washburn was 2-0 against the Twins this season with a 2.70 earned-run average. The Twins were 23-29 against left-handed starters and 40-40 on the road, but they beat A’s left-hander Mark Mulder last Sunday in a 5-4 victory at Oakland to clinch their division series.

“Yeah, we have the left-handed hitting lineup, which makes it a little tougher for us,� Twin Manager Ron Gardenhire said. “You have to take your chances. We’ve seen Mr. Washburn plenty of times. We know he’s going to come at you. There’s a guy that throws right around 90 mph, just keeps pumping those fastballs and has the heart of a lion.

“We know we’re going to have to be good and we’re going to have to get after him as best we can. That’s the way this team has played all year.�

Which is the same way the Angels have played: patient at the plate when they sense a pitcher can be worn down, aggressive when they get the pitches they want, fearless on the basepaths, and resilient enough to have made “Those plucky Angels� their new unofficial designation.

Add a bullpen that has given up one hit and no runs and has recorded 11 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings over the first two games, and the Angels are quietly confident.

They’re also respectful of the Twins, certainly, and the Twins have earned respect. Milton beat the A’s in Game 4 of the division series and Brad Radke, Saturday’s starter, won the decisive game at Oakland and has an 11-4 record against the Angels.

“They’ve shown they can play well on the road,� left fielder Garret Anderson said, “but all that gets thrown out now. We’re not looking for them to not play well.�

But the Angels are looking for their own team to play even better.

“I’ll take the position we’re in,� said second baseman Adam Kennedy, who will sit against Milton to get Benji Gil’s right-handed bat into the lineup. “We definitely had to come out with one. Milton’s been throwing well, and we’ve got our work cut out for us, but we’ll take that challenge.�

For Kennedy and Brad Fullmer, the challenge has been to adjust to Scioscia’s platoon system.

Kennedy, batting .333 in the first two rounds, and Fullmer--.500 against the Twins, including a double and a home run, and .385 in the playoffs--will yield today to Gil and Shawn Wooten, respectively. None of the four is complaining, although each acknowledged he’d like to win a regular job. And they all know it’s not the time to whine.

“Not only that, but the players that are in these roles, we understand each other,� said Gil, who batted .310 in 87 at-bats against left-handers this season, compared with Kennedy’s .275 in 69 at-bats.

“I have no doubt that Adam Kennedy could play every day against left-handers. At the same time, I’m thankful for the opportunity to play against left-handers. I take this seriously, as a chance to perform.

“Obviously, I would love to play every day. It’s not going to happen, so I’ve got to take advantage of the situation when I do get in.�

Wooten, who batted .282 in 71 at-bats against lefties this season and is batting .600--six for 10--in postseason play, said Scioscia’s platoon system hasn’t been divisive or made anyone feel unimportant.

“I look at it as, this is my role on the team, to face lefties, and I go out there when my name is called,� he said. “Whether I’m playing or not, I’m pulling for the guys. With what has happened here, with relation to our situation, you can’t knock it. We’ve had a lot of success. I do want to be an everyday player. That’s my ultimate goal. But this time of year, with this team, I know my role.�

Said Fullmer: “I come to the ballpark every day ready to go, to battle. I know I can get the job done every single day, but it’s not my decision. It’s out of my hands. I just try to contribute.... We’re in the playoffs, and it’s all about winning, that’s the big thing.�

Washburn, a northwestern Wisconsin native who grew up attending games at the Metrodome, said having to watch Kevin Appier and Ramon Ortiz start the first two games there “was eating at me.� But Washburn, who won the Angels’ division-series clincher against the Yankees last Saturday on three days’ rest, said he’s rested and ready and feeling the kind of nervous tension he likes to feel before starts.

“I feel great. I feel just as good as I did the first month of the season,� he said. “It doesn’t feel to me like I’ve thrown over 200 innings [211 including postseason play].... I’m nervous. It’s 1-1. Now it’s a five-game series, and we’ve got to win three.�