ANGELS INSIDE LOOK: TENACIOUS OFFENSE EXPLODES LATE.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Just give it time.

These days, the question isn't whether the Angels offense will produce. It's when.

Minnesota Twins starter Brad Radke scattered just two hits through the first six innings in a scoreless Game 4 in the American League Championship Series. But by the end of the game, every Angels starter had a hit, save for Tim Salmon and Adam Kennedy.

Somehow, someway, the Angels find a way to score.

They broke open Saturday's game with two runs in the seventh and five in the eighth to beat the Twins 7-1 at Edison Field.

And now the Angels are one victory away from the World Series.

``Not too many guys throw away at-bats,'' Kennedy said. ``Keep making contact and one will bloop in there for you.''

That's the method of operation. Always has been. Simple, yet effective. Even in the playoffs.

While the Angels have played long ball in the playoffs - Troy Glaus has four home runs - they keep doing the little things. The Angels had 10 hits, including five in the eighth.

Remember Game 4 against the New York Yankees? The Angels tied a playoff record with 10 hits and eight runs in the fifth inning and won 9-5.

``We get contributions from everybody,'' shortstop David Eckstein said. ``We fight and scratch and claw for everything. We have guys that can go out there and do things other than swing the bat.''

Like Darin Erstad. He had two hits, but it was his stolen base that put the Angels in scoring position in the seventh. Erstad advanced to third on catcher A.J. Pierzynski's errant throw and Salmon drew a walk from Radke.

Garret Anderson popped up to third, but Glaus singled to left to make it 1-0. Two batters later, Scott Spiezio singled to right to score Salmon and load the bases.

Erstad singled to lead off the eighth and opened the floodgates.

``We know we've always had the capability to explode like that,'' Angels pitcher Ben Weber said. ``They've done that all year.''

The Angels, batting .237 in the series, even invented a new way to score a run Saturday: a rare triple from catcher Bengie Molina.