Sunday, April 28, 2002
Angels 11, Blue Jays 4
The Associated Press
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Anaheim shortstop David Eckstein did his job, starting two double plays in the late innings. His first major league grand slam and career-high five RBIs were a bonus. The Angels' diminutive leadoff hitter had a great game in Saturday night's 11-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays
“If you go out and play the game hard and you show that you know how to play the game, size isn't a factor,” said the 5-foot-8 Eckstein, who evokes memories of Freddie Patek.
“I mean, people have come up to me and said stuff about that, especially after I didn't receive any college scholarship offers. But no one has even come up to me and said to my face, "We didn't want you because you're too short.”'
Troy Glaus went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, helping Aaron Sele win for the first time in five starts with the Angels since signing a $24 million, three-year contract as a free agent in December.
Sele (1-2) allowed four runs — one earned — and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings, sending the Blue Jays to their fourth straight loss. The two-time All-Star, who won his first eight decisions last season with Seattle, entered with a 6.65 ERA. But he insists the big contract isn't making him press.
“There's no pressure. This is my fourth team, so it's not a big deal,” Sele said. “You just keep going out there, try to execute quality pitches and keep your team in the game.”
Anaheim broke a 4-4 tie with seven runs in the fifth inning off three relievers — including the first homer of the season by Eckstein, who homered four times as a rookie last year.
“I'm not going to hit a lot of home runs, and that's why I run everything out — because I didn't know if it was gone or not,” Eckstein said. “I just ran until I saw the third base umpire's signal when I was near second base.”
Glaus' third straight hit, an RBI single off rookie Scott Cassidy, regained the lead for the Angels after Orlando Palmeiro led off with a single against Pedro Borbon (1-1) and Garret Anderson reached on a fielding error by first baseman Carlos Delgado.
“The biggest mistake was the double-play ball that we didn't turn,” Toronto manager Buck Martinez said. “Borbon got the grounder off the bat of Anderson, but Carlos couldn't make the play, and that certainly led to the big inning. We've had two seven-run innings on this trip, and both of them have been because we haven't made the plays in the field.”
Brad Fullmer doubled home another run, and Glaus scored when catcher Darrin Fletcher failed to handle the throw from second baseman Dave Berg on a fielder's choice grounder by Bengie Molina.
A walk to No. 9 hitter Scott Spiezio loaded the bases and Eckstein sent Cassidy's 1-2 pitch into the first row of seats behind the short fence in the left-field corner.
“Almost every one of his home runs is identical. It follows the save flight pattern,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “Eck can surprise you when he gets a hold of one.”
After spotting Toronto three unearned runs in the first with the help of Glaus' fielding error at third base, the Angels pulled ahead 4-3 with Glaus' two-run single in the bottom of the first and RBI singles by Molina and Eckstein in the fourth off rookie Justin Miller.
Miller, the second consecutive Toronto pitcher to make his first major league start — Mike Smith lost 4-0 Friday night — walked his first three batters and threw 36 pitches in the first inning.
“We try to encourage them all to throw the ball over the plate, but Justin got himself in a deep hole,” Martinez said. “He righted himself pretty effectively after that, but his pitch count was such that he was only able to go four innings.”
Miller was charged with four runs — three earned — and four hits in 3 2-3 innings. Acquired in December with third baseman Eric Hinske in a trade that sent closer Billy Koch to Oakland, the right-hander was called up from Triple-A Syracuse for the second time this season when reliever Bob File was placed on the disabled list Thursday.
Notes: Miller's appearance was his fourth in the majors. In his first one, on April 12 at Tampa Bay, he hit his first two batters but received credit for Toronto's 14-7 victory. ... Delgado's bloop single in the fifth was his 1,000th career hit. ... Anderson hit Anaheim's only grand slam last season, on July 8 against Colorado's Shawn Chacon in an 11-3 victory at Coors Field. The Angels tied the Expos and Mets for the fewest in the majors. ... Four of Eckstein's five homers have come at Anaheim, the other at Seattle. ... The Angels have scored 11 first-inning runs in their last three games, including four on Thursday night against RHP Mike Smith to spoil his big-league debut. ... The Blue Jays have allowed first-inning runs in 16 of their 22 games, a total of 34.
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Angels 11, Blue Jays 4 
