ANGELS STARTER WINS THIS TIME ORTIZ OUTPITCHES PETTITTE IN RARE YANKEES DEFEAT ANGELS 6, NEW YORK 2.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - After two nights of blowouts that only served to showcase the might and power of the New York Yankees, the Angels opted for something completely different Thursday night.

In the face of unstable starting pitching, the excitable Ramon Ortiz, of all people, emerged as a calming influence.

Catcher Bengie Molina, homerless almost until July last season, got his first home run out of the way early this time, a three-run shot to boot.

A Yankees starting pitcher actually dared to lose a game, something that hasn't happened since they were chased out of Edison Field by the Angels last autumn.

And after Brendan Donnelly won an October-caliber, bases-loaded showdown with Jason Giambi in the sixth inning, the Angels were on their way to a 6-2 victory in front of 39,169 at Edison Field.

The win salvaged one of the three games with the Yankees, a series that the Angels chose to downplay but the Yankees admitted was key because, as manager Joe Torre said, ``we're playing the world champs.''

To be sure, the first two games were as loud a statement as can be made in April. The Yankees scored 17 runs, stretched their winning streak to seven games, improved their record to 18-3 and improved the overall record of their starting pitchers to 16-0.

Andy Pettitte, 10-5 lifetime against the Angels, was in line to complete the sweep. But he was outpitched by Ortiz, who couldn't escape the third inning of his last game against the Yankees, in Game 3 of the American League Division Series.

This time, Ortiz (3-2) set the tone.

He was perfect through 3 1/3 innings, and Tim Salmon and Molina handed him a lead with home runs, Molina's three-run shot in the second off Pettitte making it 4-0.

Ortiz gave one back in the fourth after a walk and two singles, which brought the tying run to the plate in Raul Mondesi. Mondesi came in with six home runs and a hitting streak of 10 games but Ortiz struck him out to end the threat.

In the sixth, Ortiz gave up three singles and a home run. Fortunately for him, Bernie Williams' long ball came first, cutting the lead to 6-2.

But after Robin Ventura singled to load the bases, manager Mike Scioscia lifted Ortiz, who threw 99 pitches. He struck out five and gave up eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Donnelly struck out No. 8 hitter Todd Zeile. Enrique Wilson was due next, but Torre opted for Giambi, who didn't start after getting hit on the hand the previous night.

After Giambi worked the count full, the crowd rose to its feet, the many Yankees fans on hand realizing a tie game was one swing away. But after Giambi fouled off two full-count pitches, Donnelly blew a fastball by him to end the inning.

Donnelly, one of just five pitchers in the major leagues with at least 10 innings pitched who has yet to allow a run, has retired all 16 batters he's faced with runners in scoring position.

Donnelly struck out two more in the seventh inning and then handed off to Ben Weber, who worked a scoreless eighth. Closer Troy Percival pitched the ninth in a non-save situation.

Every Angels starter except Benji Gil and Shawn Wooten had a hit, with Troy Glaus contributing a two-run double in the fifth inning.

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Photo:

Angels catcher Bengie Molina, left, and Tim Salmon celebrate their victory over the Yankees.

Chris Urso/Associated Press