ANGELS FIND RELIEF DONNELLY PUTS FINISHING TOUCH ON WILD VICTORY ANGELS 2, TAMPA BAY 1.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jarrod Washburn lost control. Brad Fullmer admittedly lost his mind.

But in the midst of one of the Angels' wildest games this season, Brendan Donnelly kept cool. And in the end, that's what mattered most for the Angels.

On a Thursday night in which Fullmer staged an epic tirade after the first ejection of his career, the Angels nearly gave a game away to the last-place Tampa Bay Devil Rays. But Donnelly, the closer in the absence of injured Troy Percival, escaped jams in the eighth and ninth innings and the Angels held on for a 2-1 victory in front of 8,876 at Tropicana Field.

Credit the victory to Washburn (5-5) and Donnelly, who picked up his first save since Percival went on the disabled list May 23 with a degenerative right hip. Washburn, admittedly not feeling his best, gutted through 6 2/3 shutout innings before handing off to the bullpen.

Donnelly stranded the tying run on second base in the eighth inning and left the tying run on first base in the ninth, striking out Tampa Bay phenom Rocco Baldelli on three pitches to end it.

But while Washburn and Donnelly were the stars, Fullmer provided a rage-fueled sideshow.

With one out in the sixth, the Montclair Prep of Panorama City alum was running from second base with the pitch when Bengie Molina blooped a single into shallow left-center field. Fullmer paused and then raced home. Baldelli fired a strike to catcher Toby Hall, who blocked the plate deftly.

Fullmer slid around him and swiped at the plate. No call. Hall tagged Fullmer, who spread his arms wide as if to say, ``What's going on?''

Home-plate umpire Charlie Reliford called him out. Off came Fullmer's helmet. Up went Reliford's thumb, throwing Fullmer out for, Fullmer said, ``the first time anywhere.''

``His foot was on my hand,'' Fullmer said of Hall, ``which was on the plate. I saw the replay and (Reliford) was screened out. It wasn't my intention to make the helmet go flying.''

Manager Mike Scioscia came out to argue as Fullmer protested, mostly verbally. Fullmer did not yet realize he had been ejected.

``Then Mike said, `You didn't have to throw him out.' That's when I lost it,'' Fullmer said.

Fullmer nearly was back to the dugout when he did an about-face and turned back toward Reliford. Scioscia tried restraining him. So did hitting coach Mickey Hatcher. Fullmer's jersey nearly came off as he bulled back toward home plate.

Scioscia did his best to maintain order.

``Last time that happened, it was a fullback named Hunter. He played for St. Mark's in Delaware,'' Scioscia said, referring to his high school football days. ``He went about 6-4, 230. He got 3 yards, but I got him down. I was just trying to hold (Fullmer) so six or seven guys could help.''

Reliford and Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella declined comment. Hall said Fullmer was out.

``He tagged my foot and shin guard with his hand,'' Hall said. ``I felt contact on my shin guard. He made the right call.''

Thanks to Washburn, the play was mere entertainment, not a game-turning controversy.

He gave up four hits, walked three and saw his night end when he drilled Tampa Bay's Julio Lugo in the helmet in the seventh inning. By then, he admitted he was gassed.

When Ben Weber picked him up in the seventh by getting Baldelli to fly out with two on, Washburn had hung up six zeros, arduous though they were.

``I don't know what arduous means,'' Washburn said, ``but that wasn't easy. I made a couple of good pitches, but I didn't feel good from the get-go.''

Fortunately, Donnelly did. The Angels' best pitcher this season came in to protect a 2-1 lead with the tying run on second in the eighth.

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Photo:

The Angels' Brad Fullmer (20) argues after being called out at home plate on a close play in the sixth inning Thursday. He was ejected.

Scott Audette/Associated Press