A TIMELY, HEAVENLY BASHING ANGELS CONTINUE THEIR HOT-HITTING TREND WITH VICTORY ANGELS 12, TAMPA BAY 2.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA  Staff Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The schedule maker certainly has an excellent sense of humor.

In a surprising development, it was the heavenly bodies that came out successful as the Angels beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 12-2.

It wasn't as if all evil was squashed, though. The Angels still had to deal with umpire Doug Eddings, who was at it again. This time, not even another Eddings call against the Angels could thwart victory.

Perhaps it was no surprise the Angels rolled. They have developed a pattern of crushing their opponents, but having the decency to do it only every other day.

The Angels registered their convincing victory two days after blasting the Cleveland Indians 14-2. Twodays before that, they spanked the Indians 10-3.

``That's how hitting is,'' said Adam Kennedy, who had two hits, twoRBIs and a run scored. ``Everybody gets in a groove and starts having good at- bats. One guy does it and the next and the offense get rolling the way it's supposed to. It's not with homers but with base hits and base hits.''

The Angels had 17 hits in all and just one home run. After coming off the bench, Chone Figgins delivered a two-run home run in the ninthinning long after the outcome was decided.

Orlando Cabrera contributed three of the hits and has now reached base in an Angels record 37consecutive games. Chili Davis set the previous club record of 36games in 1995.

``I think we're getting into many more hitting counts and taking advantage of them,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``Our patience has improved at the plate. When we we get balls square up, we're hitting them.

``The offense over the last 15games was something we hoped to have earlier and now we have to maintain it.''

Just more than two weeks ago, the Angels had been scuffling, and general manager Bill Stoneman was being asked what he planned to do about it. Even without an impact trade, the Angels have started hitting more effectively.

The Angels have nine victories in their past 13 games, a run that begin with a 7-6 victory at Texas on May 23. Since then, the Angels have scored in double figures four times. In almost two months before then, the Angels had just three double-digit scoring games and lost one of those.

Even when the Angels were shutout Monday by the Devil Rays, they still collected 11 hits.

But the recent run hasn't been solely about hitting. The starting pitching has rebounded, and Ervin Santana was the latest to show an improved form.

After giving up a first-inning triple to Carl Crawford, who scored on a wild pitch, Santana didn't give up another hit until the sixth inning. Sporting a new hairdo that is combination corn rows and dangling braids, Santana definitely was primped and poised.

His two hits allowed in seveninnings was his lowest hit total since allowing two in 5 2/3innings in his season debut against the New York Yankees.

``It was good, exciting and it tells me we're strong,'' Santana said about the run support. ``We did good tonight. ``I had everything (working) and I was concentrating a little bit more on keeping the ball down because here the ball (flies) a lot.''

A rough outing against the Devil Rays last season was well remembered. Last Aug. 26 at Tropicana Field, Santana gave up sevenruns in 3 2/3 innings.

``I feel like he has to control his emotions on the mound and not get mad when he's behind in the count,'' said catcher Jose Molina, who had three hits, two RBIs and three runs scored. ``He has to know he has good stuff and can come back in any count he's in. That's the hardest part for him, but I understand that and try to talk to him.''

Restraint certainly was the operative word when Eddings called Juan Rivera out at second base. Rivera appeared to be safe on a double in the third inning, but Eddings apparently could not see his hand on the bag and called him out after Jorge Cantu's late tag. Scioscia came out for a brief argument.

``He thought that Cantu's foot had blocked Rivera from getting to the bag,'' Scioscia said in non-controversial fashion before letting out a smile. ``That's how he saw the play.''

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Photo:

Angels right fielder Vladimir Guerrero drives in a run with a single in the sixth inning off Scott Kazmir.

Steve Nesius/Associated Press

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ANGELS at TAMPA BAY

- Doug Padilla