ANGELS SEE THE FUTURE IN ORTIZ' STRONG DEBUT : ANGELS 9, CHICAGO 0.

Byline: Associated Press 

Ramon Ortiz had three balls in his locker, one for each of the three strikeouts he got Thursday in his major-league debut.

``He's used to more,'' catcher Ben Molina said.

Ortiz will get plenty of chances to add to his collection. Backed by a 9-0 lead, he pitched four-hit ball for eight innings Thursday to lead the Angels over the Chicago White Sox 9-2.

``I'm glad we scored enough runs so every inning it wasn't do or die on every pitch,'' Angels manager Terry Collins said. ``Hopefully this is something we'll get to see a lot of.''

Molina hit his first major-league home run and drove in a season-high four runs to support Ortiz. The Angels, who stopped a losing streak at three games and are just 7-25 in their last 32 games, also got home runs from Mo Vaughn and Troy Glaus.

Molina hit a solo homer in the third, a run-scoring single in the fourth and a two-run single in the fifth. The catcher, called up Aug. 3, entered 8 for 34 (.235) with four RBI in 10 games and went 3 for 5 to raise his average to .282.

``I hope I have many days like that,'' Molina said. ``I hope it's not the last one.''

Ortiz, a 23-year-old right-hander, struck out three and walked one. He was 5-3 in nine starts at Triple-A Edmonton of the Pacific Coast League.

Asked if he was nervous, Ortiz said, ``Why?''

``Why would he be afraid? We're all humans and people,'' said Molina, acting as interpreter. ``He said the only time he's afraid is if he's going to get killed.''

Ortiz dedicated the game to his mother and said he didn't know whether he impressed the Angels with his performance.

``His goal is to throw strikes and get people out,'' Molina said. ``He did the same thing in Edmonton. He hit his spots and threw hard. He did the same when he was in Edmonton, only this was better. He's in the big leagues.''

``In the dugout, everybody was saying that he was giving us good pitches to hit, but we just didn't do it,'' Chicago's Brook Fordyce said.

Jim Parque (9-9) gave up seven runs and eight hits in 4-2/3 innings as the White Sox lost for only the second time in eight games. He is 0-3 in seven starts since July 7.

``I'm not going to hang my head,'' Parque said. ``Everybody on this staff has struggled at some point. My time is now. I'm a professional and I'll take the beatings as they come. You can't dominate all the time.''

Molina homered in the third, Glaus homered leading off the fourth, and Anaheim made it 4-0 later in the inning on Molina's RBI single and Gary DiSarcina's run-scoring grounder.

The Angels added three runs for a 7-0 lead in the seventh on Greene's RBI single and Molina's two-run single. Vaughn got his 21st homer in the sixth off Sean Lowe.

Brian Simmons had an RBI grounder in the seventh and a run-scoring single in the ninth.

ANGELS vs. DETROIT

Time: 7:05 p.m. at Edison Field.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports West, KLAC-AM (570).

Matchup: In the Tigers' only visit to Anaheim this season, they send Brian Moehler (8-12, 5.59) against the Angels' Chuck Finley (7-10, 5.15). The Tigers (47-73) and the Angels (49-71) are each trying to avoid having the worst record in the American League.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, box

PHOTO Ramon Ortiz is congratulated by Angels' teammates after winning major league debut.

Beth A. Keiser/Associated Press

Box: Angels vs. Detroit (see text)