ANGELS OUTSLUGGED WEAVER LASTS JUST 2 1/3 INNINGS IN LOSS CHICAGO 8, ANGELS 5.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - At least the Angels can take solace in the fact they finally got into the Chicago White Sox's bullpen.

Just like in last season's American League Championship Series, everything seemed to go the way of the visitors in an 8-5 White Sox victory. At least it wasn't a complete game, though.

The White Sox pounded the Angels in the ALCS with an unprecedented performance from their starters as they delivered four consecutive complete games, three on the Angels' home turf. Freddy Garcia, who pitched the third of the four consecutive, had less heavy lifting to do this time around.

The right-hander lasted six innings, leaving the final three for the relievers. The White Sox's bullpen pitched just two-thirds of an inning in the entire five-game ALCS.

Angels starter Jeff Weaver, a former Dodger whose offseason vacation already had started the last time the teams met, had no day at the beach against the World Series champions. Weaver gave up eight runs on eight hits with two walks in 2 1/3 innings.

He didn't help himself with a two-out, bases-loaded walk to No.9 hitter Brian Anderson in the second inning that led to a two-run single by Scott Podsednik and a two-run double by Tadahito Iguchi.

"Very simple, you walk the No. 9 hitter with two out after you worked your tail off to get that second out," Weaver said. "That changed the complexion of the whole inning and brings the leadoff hitter back up. I didn't recover from there."

The defense didn't help on Iguchi's drive as Garret Anderson cruised back but was unable to haul it in at the warning track. Manager Mike Scioscia defended his outfielder, who sometimes gives the impression he isn't giving a full effort.

"He came close to catching it but that ball was a bullet," Scioscia said. "If he could have caught it, he would have caught it. The ball was hit over his head, it was a bullet, he got back on it just fine but he couldn't get to it. He just came up a little short."

Anderson also could have scored in the sixth inning when Jermaine Dye made a sliding catch in right field but while sizing up the quick play he wasn't able to tag up.

"It's easy to look at that and say `Well, obviously he should have tagged,' but that's not necessarily the case," Scioscia said. "It's a tough play because Dye throws well and if makes a short hop and comes up throwing you might not be able to score on that."

Vladimir Guerrero had four RBIs, including a two-run home run over both bullpens in left field in the first inning. The Angels tried to get back in the game in the seventh with tworuns off the White Sox's bullpen, but Tim Salmon popped out to center field to end the threat.

After allowing five runs in the second inning, Weaver gave up three runs in the third, two on a mammoth home run to center by Jermaine Dye. The crowd of 43,940 expressed its displeasure with Weaver.

"I deserved to be booed," he said. "I got my butt kicked, what do you expect? They want us to win and we're playing a key team to establish something and I let the team down today. It was plain and simple. I deserved to be booed off the field."

Garcia (4-1) won his 103rd major-league game to pass Wilson Alvarez for most victories by a Venezuelan-born pitcher.

But while the White Sox dominated last season with pitching, their new approach is a relentless hitting attack. The White Sox scored easily even though their top offensive force, Jim Thome, struck out four times.

"They have a nice blend of guys that can drive the ball and guys who can set the table," Scioscia said. "You have to make pitches to them. We just didn't do it early in the game. We settled down and did a great job. After the third inning, we put up goose eggs to get back in it we were unfortunately too far behind.

Kelvim Escobar, who lost both Games 2 and 5 of the ALCS, will have a shot at revenge against the White Sox today but insists he isn't thinking about the past.

"We've turned the page; it's a new year," Escobar said. "Whatever has happened in the past is in the past. I don't think there is anything you can do about that. They are the champions and everybody is looking to beat them because they are the champions. We're just looking to make a statement this weekend."

[e-mail]

[phone], Ext. 2731

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Chicago's Tadahito Iguchi hits a two-run double off the Angels' Jeff Weaver in the second inning Friday.

Francis Speaker/Associated Press

Box:

ANGELS vs. CHICAGO WHITE SOX 

- Doug Padilla