ANGELS RALLY AGAINST TWINS TWO IN NINTH FORCES EXTRA INNINGS.

Byline: Gordon Verrell Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Baseball's surprise of 2001, the Minnesota Twins, checked into Edison Field on Tuesday night and provided the Angels with a vivid display of how a low-budget, relatively obscure outfit is not only getting it done but has the second-best record in the majors and is turning the tables in the American League Central.

Taking advantage of virtually every opportunity given them - and the Angels, painfully so for the 14,975 fans who turned out, were gracious hosts - the Twins were squeezing out what would have been a 4-2 win until the Angels tied it at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth, which is where the game stood at press time.

It would have been Minnesota's 33rd win of the season. Only sizzling Seattle, with 38, has more.

The Angels actually outhit the Twins, 8-7, with Tim Salmon leading the way. In a coming-out of sorts for the Angels' struggling right fielder, Salmon hit his first home run in more than three weeks and also singled twice. He came in with a horrid .205 average and, worse, only eight hits his previous 57 at-bats (.140). But he has five hits his last two games, including his first homer since May 6, giving rise to the hope he's finally shaking his season-long skid.

The Twins' first baseman, Doug Mientkiewicz, who starred on the U.S. Olympic Gold Medal team, cracked out two doubles, both of them driving in runs.

The Twins also stole three bases, including a double steal in the sixth inning, when they went ahead to stay.

They added an unearned run in the eighth off of reliever Mark Lukasiewicz (0-2), but then Salmon homered in the bottom of the eighth.

Matt Lawton singled to start the Twins' eighth, knocking out Lukasiewicz. Lawton took second on a passed ball and scored on Jacque Jones' one-out single to center.

Left-hander Eric Milton (6-3), who hurled a no-hitter against the Angels two years ago, worked seven innings.

LaTroy Hawkins pitched the ninth and blew the chance for his 15th save.

The Twins took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a one-out single by Denny Hocking, then the first of Mientkiewicz's doubles.

The Angels went on top, 2-1, in the fourth on an error by shortstop Cristian Guzman, a sacrifice bunt by David Eckstein, run-scoring single by Darin Erstad - who continued his climb after a slow by running his hitting streak to nine games - and Troy Glaus' run-scoring double to left.

Minnesota tied the score in the fifth when Hocking walked with one out, then scored on Mientkiewicz's double into the right field corner.

The Twins regained the lead in the top of the sixth without the aid of a hit, hoodwinking reliever Mark Lukasiewicz with a two-out double steal.

Ramon Ortiz started the sixth inning, but after walking the first batter, Torii Hunter, he came out, matching his shortest start of the season. Lukasiewicz compounded the situation by also walking Jacque Jones. Luis Rivas grounded out, moving the runners to second and third. With the infield playing in, Eckstein made a backhanded stop of A.J. Pierzynski's hard grounder and threw out Hunter at the plate for the second out as Jones took third.

With Guzman at the plate, Pierzynski broke for second, then stopped, with Lukasiewicz in pursuit. Jones then headed for the plate. Lukasiewicz threw home, but high, and Jones scored the go-ahead run, 3-2.

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Photo:

Twins catcher A.J. Pierzynski loses the ball as the Angels' Darin erstad scores on a double by Troy Glaus.

E.J. Flynn/Associated Press