ANDERSON RATES A 10 FOR ANGELS SETS FRANCHISE RECORD FOR RBIS IN ONE GAME ANGELS 18, N.Y. YANKEES 9.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA

Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- On a wave of offense like this it was only fitting for somebody to hang a 10.

Garret Anderson showed he has plenty more in the tank with a club-record 10 RBIs, including a three-run home run and a grand slam that put the exclamation point on a major 18-9 pounding of the New York Yankees on Tuesday at Angel Stadium.

"I'll remember it," said Anderson, a Kennedy High of Granada Hills product.

"Guys kind of keep things in a box and leave them somewhere. Yeah, It'll put in a box and leave it somewhere, and I'll be able to enjoy it later on."

Presidential candidate, and noted Yankees lover, Rudy Giuliani was even in attendance, to watch the landslide. Perhaps he could have offered the consolation speech after the Angels, who scored the most runs they have ever scored against the Yankees, put together their third five-run inning of the night -- all before six innings were complete.

The last major-league player to notch 10 RBIs in a game was Alex Rodriguez on April 25, 2005, against the Angels. The torch was passed seamlessly.

Anderson topped the nine RBIs Vladimir Guerrero had June 2, 2004, against the Boston Red Sox. Anderson was just one RBI away from the American League record set by the Yankees' Tony Lazzeri in 1936, and two away from the major-league record.

Anderson had a chance for both marks when he came to the plate in the eighth inning with two runners on and two outs but he grounded out up the middle.

"I didn't know," he said about his brush with history. "During the game you don't know what the history of RBIs in a game is. You usually find out about that stuff afterward."

The outpouring of run support came for a pitcher not used to getting so much love.

Kelvim Escobar gave up more runs in a game than he has since June but he hasn't cruised like this all season.

Escobar (14-6) gave up five runs on five hits in six innings, running into trouble only in the third inning when he gave up four runs. Two of those runs came home on groundouts that were also the start of a string of seven consecutive batters he retired and 12 of his last 13.

The Cy Young candidate actually saw his ERA rise for the first time in his past five starts -- it now sits at 2.85.

It was not all good news, though. Chone Figgins had to leave the game after three innings when he sprained his left wrist on a check swing. He was examined by team doctor Lewis Yocum and was listed as day-to-day.

After the game, the Angels optioned Marc Gwyn to Triple-A Salt Lake and recalled Brandon Wood in case Figgins' injury is severe enough to force him to miss a significant amount of time. Gwyn pitched the final threeinnings to earn his first career save, even though he gave up four runs (two earned).

Rodriguez hit two home runs of his own -- a solo shot in the second inning and another in the ninth -- to give him 42 on the season. Rodriguez had three RBIs to give him 121.

Guerrero joined the 100-RBI club himself in a five-run second inning.

He had one of four Angels doubles in the inning that helped to open a 7-2 lead. Jeff Mathis had a two-run double, Guerrero doubled in Mathis, Anderson doubled in Guerrero and Gary Matthews Jr. added the fifth run on a single.

Matthews' hit knocked out Yankees starter Mike Mussina (8-9) after just 12/3 innings. The right-hander gave up seven runs on seven hits with two walks.

Guerrero joined Anderson as the only two Angels players to ever record four-consecutive 100-RBI seasons.

But nobody could match Anderson's night. After the grand slam, Anderson came out for a curtain call that he believes was the first of his career.

"It was kind of a shock and it's always nice when the fans appreciate what you do," Anderson said.

So how many more curtain calls does Anderson think he might get before he calls it a career?

"At this point I probably won't get another one," he said. "It took 13 years for that one and I don't see myself playing 26 years."

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Angels (Lackey 15-7) vs. N.Y. Yankees (Pettitte 10-7), 7 p.m. Angel Stadium.

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Photo:

The Angels' Garret Anderson watches the first of his twohomers Tuesday, a three-run shot.

Chris Carlson/Associated Press