ANGELS PLAYER OF THE GAME: FORCING HIMSELF INTO THE SPOTLIGHT GLAUS' NUMBERS DRAWING ATTENTION.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Troy Glaus' attempts to duck the spotlight are about as feeble as the fastball J.C. Romero tried to sneak by him in the bottom of the eighth inning on Friday night.

Glaus sent that pitch on a line into the right field seats during the Angels' 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.

The victory gave the Angels a 2-1 series lead, putting them within two games of their first World Series appearance. And as the Angels advance and Glaus' postseason heroics only grow with each passing round, the world will eventually get to know him - whether he likes it or not.

The stoic slugger was in peak form after the game, shoulders shrugging, head bobbing, trying to deflect attention all the while.

It's not working - not when Glaus has emerged from an off year by his standards (.250, 30 home runs) to slug four postseason home runs, including Friday night's game-winner.

And now, the nation is finding out what the Angels already know: when the game's on the line, there's no one else they'd rather have at the plate.

``This just shows he's a prime-time player,'' center fielder Darin Erstad said. ``He has that mentality. He stays within himself and stays calm. And when he's (hitting the ball to right field), it's safe to say he's locked in.''

If the past two games are any indication, he couldn't be more locked in. After taking a called third strike on a full count to end the Angels' 2-1 Game 1 loss, Glaus has four hits - all to right field. After Friday's two-hit performance, Glaus is hitting .346 (9 for 26) this postseason.

When Glaus took that curveball from Eddie Guardado to end Game 1, hitting coach Mickey Hatcher winced. The last thing he wants to see is the Angels' 6-foot-5 tower of intimidation freeze with the game on the line.

Needless to say, Hatcher's as happy as anyone Glaus emerged from the mini-funk with a batch of opposite-field hits.

``The big man's got to be aggressive,'' Hatcher said. ``He needs to put some intimidation into pitchers when he does swing and miss. I like it when he's being aggressive, swinging and missing. You look at his record for game-winning hits, Troy's the best. He's a pressure-type hitter for me.''

Indeed, Glaus' two Game 2 home runs turned around the Angels' division series against New York. He hit .293 with runners in scoring position this season and had two walk-off home runs in the regular season.

Such success breeds attention, not that Glaus wants to revel in it.

Glaus, on whether he felt redeemed for his Game 1 strikeout: ``I haven't even that about it since ... but thanks for bringing it up.''

Glaus, on the extra attention the postseason brings: ``It beats being at home. It's fine. It's part of what happens.''

Glaus, on whether he's enjoying the postseason more: ``I don't know. I don't know. This is fun. This is why we play.''

Hatcher, the affable former Dodger, has worked with Glaus diligently on hitting to the opposite field. He knows Glaus won't soon regale media members with witty anecdotes and zany one-liners, but he's working on that, too.

For now, the Angels will settle for production in the clutch.

``I see emotion when Troy has a big at bat, with RBI out there,'' Hatcher said. ``There's a fire in him. (Clutch situations) tick him off, and that's good. He's not into the press, into the interviews. He'll start learning the baseball lingo and talking to you guys.

``He's trying to understand that that's part of the game. You've got to be ready for all that - all the hype, all the attention.''

Especially if Glaus keeps up this knack for October heroics.

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Photo:

Angels slugger Troy Glaus pumps his fist after hitting the tie-breaking home run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Keith Birmingham/Staff Photographer