ALCS GAME 4: `ONE WIN, WE'RE IN' LACKEY'S GEM HELPS LIFT ANGELS TO BRINK OF FIRST WORLD SERIES ANGELS 7, MINNESOTA 1.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - What seemed so improbable for a franchise bereft of success is a single victory away.

After winning a club-record 99 games during the regular season and dispatching the defending American League champion New York Yankees in the Division Series, the Angels took a three-games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series with an impressive 7-1 victory Saturday night over the Minnesota Twins on in front of 44,830 at Edison Field.

A victory today in Game 5 will send the Angels to the first World Series in the history of the 42-year-old franchise.

``It's all blurry to me, or dreamlike,'' Angels right fielder Tim Salmon said. ``The last couple of weeks have been so exciting, there's been so much energy. And we're experiencing everything for the first time. I've been in the league 10 years and I feel like a rookie.''

The Angels beat the Twins on Saturday with two legitimate rookies in starting pitcher John Lackey and reliever Francisco Rodriguez. Lackey, 23, pitched the game of his life, shutting out the Twins on three hits through seven innings. He struck out seven and walked none.

Rodriguez, the 20-year-old phenom who began the season in Double-A, did his usual number, pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

The offense took care of the rest, wearing down Twins starter Brad Radke before beating up on the Twins' bullpen in a five-run eighth inning to put the game away. It was the Angels' third consecutive victory since losing Game 1, pushing them to the brink of baseball's greatest showcase.

``Somehow we've got to take (today's) game as if it was one of all the other games we've played,'' Angels shortstop David Eckstein said. ``If there's too much emotion, you can't keep your focus. But the reason we're in this situation is because we've been able to deal with situations like this all year. It feels like we've been playing playoff games since the All-Star break.''

Saturday's victory came on the 16-year anniversary of the club's infamous loss in Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS to the Boston Red Sox, which featured the Dave Henderson homer off Donnie Moore, so the Angels need no reminders that the series is anything but finished.

A loss today and the Angels must return to Minnesota for Game 6, and potentially, Game 7.

``One more win and we're in,'' said Angels catcher Bengie Molina, who drove in two runs with a triple in the eighth-inning outburst. ``Obviously, we don't want to go back to their home. That motivates us.''

The Angels' mantra of playing one game at a time will be tested today like never before, but they insist they'll approach it the same as ever.

``We've been through too much together to get too excited,'' Angels center fielder Darin Erstad said. ``We know the Twins aren't going to quit. We haven't won anything yet.''

The Twins have been in a do-or-die situation this season already, trailing the Oakland A's 2-1 before winning the final two games of their Division Series.

``I think they're going to come out madder than hell (today),'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of his team. ``I can promise you this, the Minnesota Twins will show up tomorrow. We're going to try to get this thing back to the Metrodome and we'll go from there. We've had our backs to the wall, been in holes all year long, I promise you we'll come out and play baseball (today).''

They played good baseball Saturday as well, as the game was scoreless through six innings. Lackey got through the top of the seventh with the shutout intact, and the Angels' offense got rolling in the bottom of the inning.

Erstad led off with a bloop single to center. On a 3-1 pitch to Salmon, Erstad stole second, then went to third on catcher A.J. Pierzynski's throwing error.

``(Angels manager Mike Scioscia) likes to get guys in motion,'' Erstad said. ``I got the sign that I had the green light. If I got a good jump, I go. I got a good jump, and I went.''

Salmon walked and Garret Anderson popped out, but Troy Glaus drove in the first run of the game with a single to left. Scott Spiezio doubled home another run for a 2-0 lead.

Against the Twins' bullpen in the eighth, the Angels scored five runs, all with two outs. Anderson singled home one, Brad Fullmer doubled home two and Molina tripled home two more.

``Who knows if we'll ever be back here again?'' Erstad said. ``That's why we're enjoying it.''

ALCS GAME 5

Minnesota (Mays 4-8) at Angels (Appier 14-12), Today, 1:30 p.m., Ch. 11

NLCS GAME 4

St. Louis (Benes 5-4) at San Francisco (Hernandez 12-16), Today, 5:19 p.m., Ch. 11

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

(color) Angels rookie John Lackey shut out Minnesota on three hits through seven innings, striking out seven and walking none.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box:

ANGELS 7, TWINS 1