ANGELS INSIDE LOOK: PLAYING LIKE ONE FAMILY ROLE PLAYERS GIL, WOOTEN DELIVER IN SERIES VS. YANKS.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - As Benji Gil roamed the Angels clubhouse pouring liberal amounts of Don Julio tequila down the throat of any teammate foolish enough to open his mouth, he did a double-take when he saw Adam Kennedy.

Gil and Kennedy battle each other for at-bats and playing time. It was Gil who supplanted Kennedy at second base Saturday for Game 4 of the Angels' American League Division Series game against the New York Yankees, even though Kennedy had three hits, including a home run, in a Game 3 victory the night before.

Tension? Not in this clubhouse.

``AK! That's my boy right there!'' Gil said before dousing Kennedy with tequila. The two shared a lengthy hug and whispered sweet nothings to each other before continuing on with the celebration.

It's amazing what winning will do for a team.

The Angels' 9-5 series-clinching victory over the Yankees on Saturday in many ways epitomized a season in which players were asked to swallow hard, accept their role, and produce when called upon.

Gil and Shawn Wooten most certainly did Saturday.

Wooten, who played in just 49 games this season, tied the game at 2 with a towering home run off David Wells leading off the fifth inning. One out later, Gil hit the first of five consecutive singles and eventually scored the go-ahead run. By the time the eight-run inning was over, Gil and Wooten each had two hits. By game's end, the part-timers contributed six hits in seven at-bats, four runs scored and three RBI.

They were the beneficiaries of manager Mike Scioscia's steadfast belief in his entire roster. Gil committed an error that nearly cost the Angels a Game 2 victory, and Kennedy had contributed perfect defense and a .571 average in the series. What's more, Gil was just 1 for 17 lifetime against Wells.

But Scioscia showed early in this series he sticks to his convictions and stands by his players. So there was Gil's name in the lineup Saturday morning against the left-handed Wells.

``I was totally pumped up to get the opportunity to play,'' said Gil, a former first-round pick of the Texas Rangers whom the Angels signed as a free agent two years ago. ``I was very much looking forward to redemption. Scioscia's got confidence in everybody on this team. But we all believe in each other.

``Three years ago, I was in the minor leagues. Nobody wanted to take a chance on me. Mike Scioscia and his staff took a chance on me. If you told me two and a half, three years ago that I'd be standing here celebrating an American League division series victory, I'd say you probably fell out of a tree.''

Wooten can relate. Released by the Detroit Tigers in 1995, he spent a season and a half playing independent ball in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, before the Angels signed him in '97. It's little wonder, then, his grateful mentality fit in well on this team.

``It seems like everyone 1 to 25 contributes, even if it's just one at-bat, one hit,'' said Wooten, who was 6 for 9 in the ALDS. ``I've been on a lot of teams, but I've never been on a team as close as this. We're just going to enjoy this.''

General manager Bill Stoneman concurs.

``This is as together a group as I've been involved in,'' he said. ``They really are together, they want to accomplish their goal together. This is a team thing.''

While the theory goes that prosperity breeds a harmonious clubhouse, Scioscia disagrees. He says the roots of teamwork were sown long before he took over before the 2000 season.

Winning, of course, never hurts.

``The team aspect came first, and then the winning,'' Scioscia said. ``I've seen it grow here. There's an incredible sense of team here. I think maybe it manifests itself more because we're winning.''

Scioscia said he did not hesitate to start Gil despite his Game 2 error because ``this game is not about being perfect.'' A clubhouse that includes its fair share of independent league refugees and castoffs from other organizations can certainly understand that.

``It's the faith we have in each other,'' said Kennedy, a Cal State Northridge product. ``I can't tell you how many times I did something wrong on the field and knew someone else would do the right thing. The feeling among the players is tremendous.''

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Benji Gil, who platoons with Adam Kennedy at second, slaps his second hit of the fifth inning Saturday.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer