ESCOBAR SHOWS WHAT AL WILL BE MISSING STARTER HELPS STOP ANGELS' SHORT SKID ANGELS 5, TEXAS 2.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA 

Staff Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Kelvim Escobar pitched like a man with a score to settle, even though he claimed to have no mean streak Thursday.

Escobar found out less than two hours before taking the mound against the Texas Rangers that his last chance at earning an spot on the American League All-Star team had been denied. Escobar finished fourth in an Internet fan vote for the 32nd and final roster spot, with Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima taking the honor instead.

Knowing that his break would be spent on a beach in Cancun, Mexico with his young son instead of in the whirlwind All-Star atmosphere of San Francisco seemed to put Escobar at peace.

He delivered seven strong innings in his final start of the first half, leading the Angels to a much-needed 5-2 victory that prevented the Rangers from completing a three-game sweep.

"I never worry about things that are out of my hands," Escobar said. "I went out there and pitched good because we needed this game after losing two games. We didn't want to go to New York (with a loss), especially on get-away day. You want to get a 'W' any way, get on the plane, relax and get ready for (today)."

The Angels entered having lost six of their past eight games, but they reverted back to their June form, for one night anyway.

All-Star Vladimir Guerrero delivered a first-inning run on a single. Jose Molina and Reggie Willits each drove in a run in the fifth inning and Maicer Izturis sealed the victory with a two-run triple in the sixth inning.

For Izturis, who had two separate stints on the disabled list because of hamstring problems, it was his first start since May20. The bottom of the Angels' order in Garret Anderson, Izturis and Molina had a combined five of the Angels' 10hits.

"You don't want to say too much," Anderson said. "I had been watching the games on TV and we had been playing some good games. The last two nights, sometimes you have to give credit to the other team. It's the same attitude as it was early as it is now. I haven't seen any changes."

There certainly is no debating the consistency that Escobar has shown. The right-hander improved to 10-3 and with John Lackey's 11 victories, the Angels now have two 10-game winners in the first half for the first time since 1991, when Chuck Finley and Mark Langston did it.

It didn't hurt that Molina was behind the plate for this one. When Escobar has pitched to Molina this season he is 6-0 in seven starts with a 1.35 ERA. In eight starts pitching to Mike Napoli, Escobar is 5-3 with a 5.00 ERA.

"Right now there is certainly a great trend with Jose Molina and Kelvim and we'll look at it closely," manager Mike Scioscia said.

Escobar gave up just one run on three hits in his seven innings with three walks and eight strikeouts.

Not that it was recognized for the All-Star Game by his fellow players, AL manager Jim Leyland or the fans in the final Internet vote. Even if the phone rings now to invite Escobar as a roster replacement, he still will be Mexico-bound.

"If they call me to go I'm not going to go," he said. "They have to find somebody else. We're ready to go to Cancun for the break and I didn't make the team, so I'm not going to go. If something comes up, I'm not going.

"No offense to them. I think I made a good case to be there."

Maybe there was a little edge to him Thursday night after all.

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The Angels' Kelvim Escobar struck out eight and earned his 10th win Thursday at Texas.

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press