ANGELS ROLL ROCKIES FIVE HOMERS, PITCHING BOOST SERIES SWEEP ANGELS 11, COLORADO 3.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

DENVER - The Angels hit 11 home runs in their three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies, including five in an 11-3 win Sunday before 37,577 at Coors Field.

What really impressed Angels manager Mike Scioscia, however, was not so much the sudden display of power and offense, but the pitching.

Angels starter Pat Rapp gave up a three-run homer to Todd Walker in the first inning, but nothing more in his six innings, allowing five hits, as the Angels went into the All-Star break with four consecutive victories.

In the series, Angels pitchers gave up 11 runs and only 21 hits, holding the Rockies hitters to a .219 average (21 for 96).

``You can talk about the runs, and certainly we've been struggling,'' Scioscia said. ``But we continue to get great pitching, and in a park that's tough to pitch in against a talented lineup. The pitchers did what they've been doing all year.''

Rapp was relieved by Lou Pote, who threw three hitless innings. But by that time, the outcome of the game was not in doubt. The Angels scored nine runs in the first two innings, getting three of their five homers.

Garret Anderson hit a grand slam, Darin Erstad hit a three-run homer and a solo homer, and Scott Spiezio had a two-run homer and a solo homer for the Angels.

All five homers were hit by left-handed batters and went to right field. Third baseman Troy Glaus, who will participate in the All-Star Game home run hitting contest tonight, was held to a single.

``It was great, tremendous,'' Glaus said of the home runs. ``I would have liked to join it myself, but that's the way it goes.''

The Angels scored four in the first inning on Anderson's grand slam off Rockies starter Shawn Chacon (4-5). But Rapp gave three right back on Walker's homer in the bottom of the inning.

In the top of the second, Erstad hit his three-run homer and Spiezio added a two-run blast to make it 9-3, and the Rockies would never get close again.

``They come in bunches, that's the way it's always been,'' said Erstad, who has seven homers this season. ``You can't really describe it. It's contagious.''

Anderson said: ``If you get the ball up in the air here, there's a good chance it's going out. But the thing about hitting here is you don't have to pull the ball to hit a home run. You can use the whole field.''

After the first inning, Rapp settled down. He allowed only two singles and two walks between the second and sixth innings, and only one Rockies baserunner got as far as second base.

``It was just a matter of figuring out what (home-plate umpire Chris Guccione) was going to call,'' Rapp said. ``After that, I just tried to keep the ball down, and they kept swinging and hitting the ball on the ground.''

Many of the Angels hitters said it's about time they carried their share of the load.

``We have a bunch of pitchers who want the ball,'' Erstad said. ``They're competitors, they're not afraid to throw the ball over the plate. They make pitches and get guys out, and they've been doing it all year.

``(The hitters) finally stepped up a little bit.''

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Photo:

Darin Erstad is welcomed at the dugout after hitting a home run in the fourth inning Sunday at Coors Field.

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Box: ANGELS 11, ROCKIES 3