COLON COMPLETES SWEEP ANGELS STARTER THROWS FOUR-HITTER, BEATS MARINERS ANGELS 4, SEATTLE 0.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA  Staff Writer

SEATTLE -- There is vintage Bartolo Colon and there is the whole new level the Angels right-hander reached Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners.

Colon delivered a tidy 91-pitch complete game in a 4-0 victory over the Mariners to give the Angels their first series sweep of the season.

The Angels have won five consecutive games and nine of their past 13 to pull within four games of the American League West-leading Oakland Athletics.

The Angels and A's open a four-game series today in Oakland, and a sweep could bring the teams even heading into the All-Star break.

It was Colon's first complete game since June 15 of last season, which was in a 1-0 defeat by the Washington Nationals. It was his first shutout since Aug. 19, 2002, when he blanked the San Diego Padres. That outing came when he was still a member of the Montreal Expos.

Colon posted his first victory of the season and first since he topped the A's Barry Zito in September of last season for win No. 21.

``We've had some good starts, but that might be one of Bart's better ones (with the Angels) just for the fact that he really pitched (Wednesday night),'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``I think his pitch efficiency, the movement on his fastball and maintaining his velocity through the game, they're all good signs.''

Colon (1-4) was not throwing the high 90-mph fastball that was the strength of his early years. He stopped the Mariners with hard stuff that barely touched 90mph.

``The way I was getting movement was not by aiming at the corners but aiming more toward the middle of the plate and having that movement take it to the corners,'' Colon said through broadcaster Jose Mota, who was serving as interpreter. ``To righties it was running in to them and to lefties I was starting it inside.''

The reigning American League CyYoung Award winner finally appears to have distanced himself from the shoulder problems that started in last season's playoffs. His three starts since returning from the DL gave no indication that Wednesday's outing was coming. Colon had allowed 11 earned runs in three starts since his return June 18, and nine of those came in his past two starts.

It wasn't as if Colon is any stronger than he was when he came off the disabled list. What helped is that he finally is figuring out how to have success without a blazing fastball.

``I think today is one for me to remember because even though it wasn't perfect, I need to remember the feeling that I brought against a good lineup,'' Colon said. ``This is one game to remember to know that when I don't have my best stuff I can pitch like this.''

For rookie catcher Mike Napoli, handling the outing was a breeze. The game lasted just 2 hours, 3 minutes.

``It was so easy for me to call the game,'' Napoli said. ``He threw, I think, 86 fastballs. He had to shake to throw the slider and we only threw it three or four times with a couple of changeups. It was fun. It was a quick game, good pace and it was definitely fun to catch.''

Colon's outing was the longest by an Angels pitcher this season.

For Mariners starter Jamie Moyer, the result was all too familiar. It was the second consecutive time Seattle was shut out with Moyer on the mound.

The Angels scored all of their runs off the Mariners' left-hander in the fifth inning. Juan Rivera and Kendry Morales singled to open the inning, bringing up Robb Quinlan. With a bunt a possibility, Scioscia let Quinlan swing away, and the No. 9 hitter delivered a three-run homer. It was Quinlan's fourth home run of the season and his third since June 24.

Orlando Cabrera added the other run on a homer that just grazed off the outstretched glove of Mariners left fielder Raul Ibanez. It was Cabrera's sixth home run of the season and extended his on-base streak to 62 games.

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1) Orlando Cabrera extended his streak of reaching base safely to 62 games by hitting a homer in the fifth.

Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

(2) ESCOBAR

Box:

ANGELS at OAKLAND

-Doug Padilla