Roll Reversal Is Going Strong

CLEVELAND — Behold the power of the Angels, who are so hot that they called up a guy with a .103 lifetime average, put him into the lineup and watched him turn into an instant hero.

Julio Ramirez, promoted from the minor leagues Wednesday, did not arrive here Thursday until two hours before game time. He started in right field, dropped a beautiful bunt single in his first at-bat and threw out a runner at home plate--on the fly--as part of the Angels’ highlight reel in an 8-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

The Angels extended their winning streak to seven games, their longest in four years. And squeakers these are not--the Angels have outscored opponents, 69-19, during the streak, never winning by fewer than three runs.

“It’s a good roll, no doubt about it,” said reliever Dennis Cook, whose earned-run average fell to 0.90. “It seems like everything we’re doing is right.”

The reverse is true for the Indians, who have lost 14 of 16 and were outscored, 36-4, in these three games.

“You’ve got to give them a lot of credit for sweeping us,” Cleveland Manager Charlie Manuel said, “even though I don’t think we’re that bad. In fact, I know we’re not this bad.”

The Angels were singing that chorus last week, when they were 6-14. Now look at them: Kevin Appier pitched six shutout innings Thursday to extend his string of consecutive scoreless innings to 13 and lower the staff ERA during the streak to 1.99. Troy Glaus drove in two runs Thursday and eight for the series; he is hitting .455 during the winning streak.

David Eckstein, the leadoff hitter, had three hits Thursday and has scored nine runs during the streak. Bengie Molina had two hits and is batting .449 during the streak. Darin Erstad had seven hits in the sweep and contributed a spectacular diving catch Thursday.

“It’s about time we chipped in,” Erstad said of the hitters.

Tim Salmon chipped in Thursday, as the designated hitter. After striking out three times, he hit the 250th home run of his career in the ninth inning.

“They handed me the ball and I said, ‘OK, great.’ For two and a half hours, I’m having a miserable game. Two seconds later, it all changes.”

To the Angels, the most gratifying aspect of their success is their situational hitting, a focus in spring training.

In the series, they scored four runs on sacrifice flies, stole six bases, drew 15 walks and batted .489 with runners in scoring position.

Last season, the Angels batted .242 with men in scoring position. This season, they lead the major leagues at .326.

Ramirez, the newcomer, wasplaying center field in a triple-A game in Sacramento Wednesday. In the fourth inning, he was yanked and told to pack for Cleveland, and back to the majors.

“I was shocked,” he said.

He hit .143 in 15 games for Florida in 1999 and .081 in 22 games for the Chicago White Sox last year. Chicago released him in spring training, and the Angels never would have signed him had they not lost their triple-A center fielder, Nathan Haynes, to injury.

The way the Angels are going, Ramirez could develop into a hitter before their very eyes.