ANGELS RIGHT AT HOME ON RANGE GUERRERO EXTENDS HITTING STREAK AGAINST TEXAS TO 28 IN ROUT ANGELS 13, TEXAS 3.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ARLINGTON, Tex. - There is no truth to the rumor that Angels third-base coach Ron Roenicke was spotted in the trainers' room icing his shoulder after Monday's game against the Texas Rangers, but it wouldn't be a surprise if Roenicke woke up this morning with a sore rotator cuff.

That's because Roenicke spent most of Monday's game waving baserunners around third in the Angels' 13-3 win over the Rangers in front of 34,471 at Ameriquest Field. The Angels tied a season-high with 20 hits, nine of which went for extra bases. Juan Rivera (three doubles, single) led the way with four hits, Vladimir Guerrero (two doubles, home run) had three, and now has a hit in 28 consecutive games against the Rangers.

Jeff DaVanon also had three hits, Adam Kennedy (CSUN) hit his first home run of the season and the Angels had a season-high seven doubles in the game.

Angels starter Bartolo Colon became a 10-game winner pitching eight strong innings, allowing three runs and eight hits and winning his 10th consecutive decision (9-0 with the Angels) against the Rangers going back to 2003.

The Angels did it all with four of their regular starters (Bengie Molina, Dallas McPherson, Steve Finley and Orlando Cabrera) out with injury or illness. Such is life for the Angels these days, who have won seven in a row and increased their American League West lead over the Rangers to 7 1/2 games.

At 46-29, the Angels matched their best record after 75 games in franchise history (1998), and their division lead is the largest since a 7 1/2-game lead on Aug. 31, 1995.

``I think even when we had a shorter lead we still had a lot of confidence,'' Colon said through an interpreter. ``What we always talk about in here is there's a lot of baseball left. No way are we going to take anything for granted.''

It might be difficult not to expect such performances from Colon, who is 10-4 and on pace to become the Angels' first 20-game winner since Nolan Ryan won 22 in 1974.

``I don't think many pitchers in our league are doing what he's doing right now,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Colon, who lowered his season ERA to 3.02, struck out five and did not walk a batter. He was lifted after eight innings even though he'd thrown only 87 pitches.

``I wanted to go back out there really bad,'' Colon said. ``But I understand Mike needed to make a decision right there. I think he was concerned about the heat (95 degrees at first pitch) and (me) getting hit on my ankle.''

Colon was hit on the left ankle, the same ankle that bothered him for much of last season, on a Gerald Laird comebacker in the fifth inning, but he said his ankle is fine. But no pitcher wants to leave a game when the offense is putting up numbers like the Angels did Monday, scoring in every inning but the second and third, and knocking Rangers starter C.J. Wilson out after 4 2/3 innings. Every starter in the Angels' lineup had at least one hit except catcher Jose Molina.

``There's not too much pressure on anyone in the lineup,'' Kennedy said. ``We're not relying on Vlad or Garret (Anderson) to carry us every single day. It's a lot of fun playing in a lineup like that.''

With all the good things that are happening to them, the Angels are careful not to get too excited even though they've beaten the Rangers in eight of 10 games this season.

``There's a lot of baseball left,'' Scioscia said. ``A lot of games with (Texas) were close. That's a team that's going to be there. Right now we've won our share against them, but we have to keep playing this way to keep it going.''

The Rangers, meanwhile, expect the Angels to come back to earth.

``This is going to stop,'' said the Rangers' David Dellucci. ``These guys are going to cool off. We have to remember that and be ready to make a run when they do.''

Joe Haakenson, [phone]

joe.haakenson(at)sgvn.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, 4 boxes

Photo:

Outfielder Vladimir Guerrero hits a double in the first inning of the Angels 13-3 win over Texas on Monday.

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

(2 -- color) no caption (Vladimir Guerrero)

(3 -- color) no caption (Bartolo Colon)

Box:

(1) ANGELS at TEXAS

- Joe Haakenson

(2) GAME RECAP

(3) HOW THE RUNS SCORED

(4) ANGELS ALMANAC