AT LAST, AN EASY VICTORY; ANGELS RIP TIGERS WITH 16-HIT EFFORT : ANGELS 13, DETROIT 2.

Byline: Joe Haakenson San Gabriel Valley Tribune

The Angels have had to scratch and claw for everything they've gotten this season, but Thursday night they skated.

A six-run third inning and five more in the fifth propeled the Angels to a 13-2 rout of the Detroit Tigers before 27,548 at Edison Field.

With the win the Angels maintained their 1-1/2-game lead over Texas in the AL West.

The Angels got a solid outing from starter Omar Olivares and had enough offense - 16 hits - to beat the Lions on some nights, let alone the Tigers.

But what impressed Angels manager Terry Collins more than anything was the defense. Besides making all the routine plays, they made the tough ones.

``I don't know if I've ever been involved in a game where there was a better defensive display in the infield. At every position,'' Collins said. ``We scored a lot of runs but every time (the Tigers) started to put something together, we'd make a play.

Third baseman Troy Glaus made four good plays, shortstop Gary DiSarcina started a double play by fielding a chopper in the hole and second baseman Randy Velarde made two outstanding plays. On one of them, he ranged to his left in shallow right field to stop a grounder by Gabe Alvarez and made a throw across his body for the out. On the other, he barehanded a chopper and threw out Luis Gonzalez.

``Glaus played as good a game at third base as you can play,'' Collins said. ``Gary played his normal game and Randy Velarde, on that play to his left, it showed his (surgically repaired) arm is fine.''

Of the Angels' 16 hits, none left the ballpark. They had 10 singles and six doubles as every starter but Orlando Palmeiro had at least one hit.

Darin Erstad, Glaus and DiSarcina had three hits apiece, Garret Anderson had two doubles and Velarde reached base four times (two singles, two walks).

It made for an easy night for Olivares, who gave up two runs and seven hits in eight innings to get the win. Olivares (7-8) struck out seven, walked one and is 2-0 with a 2.38 ERA in his past three starts.

While grateful for the offensive support, he also talked about the defense after the game.

``That's what makes you a better pitcher,'' Olivares said. ``When you have good defense, when they're catching the ball and making the plays, you're going to be more successful.

Much has been made about Glaus' offense. He hit 35 homers between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Vancouver this year. But just as impressive has been his adjustment to third base from shortstop, where he played at UCLA.

``I've played 140 games there this year, so I'm more comfortable,'' he said. ``It's just a matter of reading the ball off the bat and getting the hops you want.''

The Angels scored six runs off Tigers starter Brian Powell (2-4) in the third inning alone. It all started innocently enough when Palmeiro led off with a strikeout. But the next six Angels batters reached base.