ANGELS HAVE UPWARD MOBILITY VICTORY IS 15TH IN 17 GAMES, MOVING THEM 4 1/2 BEHIND M'S SEATTLE 9, DETROIT 2.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

DETROIT - Told the Seattle Mariners lost Tuesday night, Angels manager Mike Scioscia responded: ``Did they? I didn't see.''

That's the mindset Scioscia is preaching to his club, which beat the Detroit Tigers 9-2 on Tuesday in front of 12,745 at Comerica Park. Coupled with the Mariners' loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Angels' win put them 4 1/2 out in the AL West, the closest they've been since April 12.

Angels have won six in a row and 15 of their past 17, matching the best 17-game stretch in club history (June 1-17, 1998). But Scioscia said his players aren't patting themselves on the back.

``We're not looking at it in terms like that, because we also got off to the worst start in franchise history,'' he said of the 6-14 start. ``We're trying to keep the short-term focus. We're not looking past anything but (tonight's) ballgame.''

If it's anything like the past 17, the Angels stand a good chance of winning. They played another complete game Tuesday, getting another solid outing from starter Kevin Appier (seven innings, two runs, three hits) and more than enough offense.

Eight of the nine starters had at least one hit, including three by Tim Salmon. Salmon homered, doubled, singled and drove in four runs, and Troy Glaus also homered as the Angels had 14 hits.

Still, the Angels refuse to allow themselves to get too excited about the way they're playing.

``We were good about not panicking when things were not going real good at first,'' said Antelope Valley-product Appier, who improved to 4-1 and lowered his ERA to 2.79. ``Still, it's been a lot different. You feel a lot of confidence in here. It's not cockiness. We don't know we can kick everybody's butt when we go out there. But we have a lot more confidence about us.

``We're glad we've been playing great lately, but you can't assume (today's) going to be the same thing. Just keep busting our butts hard and hopefully in September we're in playoff position.''

If the Angels are to make a run for the playoffs, Appier figures to have a major role. He's allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his eight starts. The Angels are 6-2 in games he started.

None of the Angels pitchers have had to worry about a lack of offensive support lately. During the 17-game stretch, the Angels have averaged 7.8 runs per game.

The Angels scored early, getting two runs in the first, one in the second and two in the third for a 5-0 lead.

ANGELS vs. DETROIT

Time: 4:05 p.m., Comerica Park.

TV/Radio: No TV; 570-AM, 1090-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: RH Aaron Sele (3-2, 5.75 ERA) will start for the Angels against Detroit LH Mark Redman (0-4, 5.24). During the Angels' past 17 games, they've outscored their opponents 133-49, batting .328 with an ERA of 2.46.

- Joe Haakenson

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Tim Salmon, left, and Troy Glaus are congratulated by teammates after Salmon's three-run homer in the seventh inning Wednesday.

Paul Warner/Associated Press

Box:

ANGELS vs. DETROIT (see text)