ANGELS NOTEBOOK: RECENT RUN HAS ANGELS POISED FOR STRETCH DRIVE.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - It became known as ``The Stretch.''

The Angels played 20 games against the five teams in the American League, other than themselves, with winning records. It started July 15 with two games against the Twins, continued with two series each against the A's and Mariners, and finished with the seven-game homestand against the Red Sox and Yankees.

Final tally: Angels 12, opponents 8.

``Our team is good enough to beat those teams,'' right fielder Tim Salmon said. ``Our team is good enough to play in the postseason. But the important thing is to keep it going. We've been doing it up to now, but now's not the time to relax.''

Manager Mike Scioscia refuses to get caught up in looking at one stretch being more important than another. Even the past 20 games.

``It wasn't critical to look at the 20-game stretch and say we had to step up and do something special,'' he said. ``Just like we're not going to look at the next stretch and take a breather. We didn't elevate our game for the 20-game stretch; we played the same level we've been playing all year.''

--Angels missing a G: Scioscia usually juggles his lineup when the team is facing a left-handed pitcher, but Sunday's lineup against Yankees lefty David Wells had a notable omission.

Garret Anderson was not in the starting lineup for the first time all season because of a cramp in his right hamstring. He suffered the injury running the bases Saturday night. It was the first time Anderson did not start since Aug. 29 of last season, when he had a family matter.

Anderson said he wasn't sure when he last missed a game because of an injury.

``I can't remember,'' said Anderson, whose consecutive-games played streak was extended to 139 because he pinch hit, striking out, in the ninth inning. ``It's (Scioscia's) decision, ultimately, but it was the smart thing to do.''

Anderson has played at least 150 games in each of the past six seasons and has never been on the disabled list. He is listed as day to day, but neither Anderson nor Scioscia knew if Anderson would play tonight.

--Record weekend: The Angels and Yankees sold out all four games of the series at Edison Field, with a combined attendance of 173,639. It is the highest total for a four-game home series in Angels history, including the years the team played in Anaheim Stadium, which had a capacity of around 60,000.

ANGELS vs. DETROIT

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

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

Matchup: John Lackey (2-2, 2.86 ERA) will start for Anaheim against Detroit's Brian Powell (1-1, 6.00). Tonight's game is the makeup for a rainout May 16. Lackey has allowed one run in his past two starts, covering 14 1/3 innings. In his seven starts this season, he has given up more than three earned runs in a game only once. The Angels are 4-1 against the Tigers this season.

- Joe Haakenson

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