ANGELS ZIP PAST BREWERS : BIG RALLY ISN'T NEEDED THIS TIME ANGELS 10, MILWAUKEE 3.

Byline: Arnie Stapleton Associated Press 

The Angels didn't need their comeback magic Thursday night.

Randy Velarde and Don Slaught drove in three runs each as the streaking Angels routed the Milwaukee Brewers 10-3.

The Angels have won 11 of 12, but their previous 10 victories had been comebacks. This time, they scored early and often, getting two runs in the second, three in the third and four in the fourth.

``We got off to a good start, it was nice to put a lot of runs up there,'' Slaught said.

Mark Langston (5-2) cruised with the big lead, allowing three runs and five hits in seven innings. He walked two, struck out four and retired the last 12 batters he faced.

Third baseman Jeff Cirillo's error on Slaught's potential inning-ending double play in the third allowed two runs to score to break a 2-2 tie.

``You can't make a mistake like that, the way we're playing,'' Slaught said. ``We got our runs early instead of late. That's the kind of play we wouldn't have capitalized on early in the year.''

Velarde followed with an RBI single, and his run-scoring single in the fourth capped a four-run inning that gave the Angels a 9-3 lead.

Garrett Anderson's third hit, an RBI double, made it 6-3 and chased Brewers starter Brian Givens (1-2). But reliever Angel Miranda retired just one of five batters.

Miranda walked his first two batters before Slaught's two-run single made it 8-3. Velarde's RBI single chased Miranda, who gave up two runs, two hits and two walks in one-third of an inning.

``I don't care when we score,'' Anderson said, ``as long as we score.''

Milwaukee manager Phil Garner was more upset about the latest developments in Albert Belle's suspension than he was with his pitching staff.

Brewers catcher Mike Matheny began serving his three-game suspension Thursday. He was penalized for charging Cleveland reliever Julian Tavarez on May 31, the night Belle decked second baseman Fernando Vina.

On Tuesday night, the AL offered to reduce Matheny's suspension to three games, and the union accepted.

Earlier this week, the five-game suspensions of Belle and Tavarez were reduced to three after a hearing. Belle's suspension was reduced yet again Thursday - this time from three games to two.

American League president Gene Budig, facing a possible lawsuit by Belle if he didn't settle the case, agreed to a deal proposed by the players' association: Rather than serve a three-game suspension, Belle will miss Cleveland's day-night doubleheader against the New York Yankees today and pay a $25,000 fine.

``I'm sure they're going to do that for Mike, aren't they,'' Garner asked sarcastically.

Garner said it didn't make sense for Matheny to have to be penalized longer than Belle.

``I don't think Mike would have gone out there if it wasn't for Belle's action,'' he said.

``I hope they never, ever bring up the word preferential treatment for the commissioner (Bud Selig, the Brewers owner),'' Garner added. ``That sure doesn't sound like we're getting preferential treatment, does it? Conflict of interest?''

Givens gave up seven runs, five earned, and nine hits in 3-1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three - all of them in the first.

Darin Erstad's second homer of the season, off Terry Burrows in the eighth, made it 10-3. Burrows was sent down after the game to make room for catcher Kelly Stinnett, who was summoned from Triple-A New Orleans.

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Photo

Photo: Darin Erstad of the Angels is congratulated by teamm ate J.T. Snow after hitting an eighth-inning home run against the Brewers.

Associated Press