FIRST PAIN, THEN GAIN VLAD HIT IN HEAD BUT HE RECOVERS, AS DO ANGELS ANGELS 5, SEATTLE 2.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - It was a Monday night that for the Angels alternated between the sickening and the sublime - a night Vladimir Guerrero got beaned in the head, Adam Kennedy suffered a possible season-ending injury and Dallas McPherson showed that the future may, in fact, be now.

The Angels took a step toward staying in the postseason picture with a wild 5-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners. The win snapped a scoreless streak at two games and moved the Angels within 2 1/2 games of idle Oakland.

It did not come without a cost. Kennedy left the game in the fifth inning when he wrenched his right knee fielding Ichiro Suzuki's infield single and heard a pop after he planted awkwardly. He left the stadium on crutches, will have an MRI today and could have a major knee injury.

Left fielder Jose Guillen left the game after seven innings with a strained right hip flexor and is day to day. Oddly enough, Guerrero is fine and likely to play today, even after Seattle starter Ryan Franklin planted a two-strike fastball in the back of his head, the crack of ball striking helmet resonating through Angel Stadium in the bottom of the first inning.

The game was delayed for six minutes as trainers attended to Guerrero and manager Mike Scioscia berated the umpiring crew and verbally engaged Franklin, who took several steps toward Scioscia, prompting Seattle's dugout to clear. Scioscia was ejected and both benches were warned.

Guerrero, who never lost consciousness, was taken to Anaheim Memorial Hospital for X-rays, which were negative, and returned to the stadium by game's end. He said he felt no ill will toward Franklin or the Mariners.

Scioscia did. He was upset because an umpire's report was filed on a July incident between Guerrero and Mariners second baseman Bret Boone, whom Guerrero thought ordered pitcher Bobby Madritsch to hit him.

Given that bad blood, Scioscia thought Franklin should be ejected, and was disgusted Franklin hit Guerrero in the head.

In the third inning, Angels starter John Lackey hit Seattle's Randy Winn in the knee.

``I told Franklin, if you pitch inside, you should pitch inside responsibly,'' Scioscia said. ``He has good command. It's obviously disturbing. If Franklin pigeonholes one of our guys, he should be ejected. I can't speak for Ryan, I can't speak for them.''

Angels closer Troy Percival absolved Franklin of intent, and Franklin said he was trying to throw a fastball in that sailed up on him. Winn said he did not have a problem with the Angels.

``I don't know what he was yelling, but obviously we're not trying to hit the guy,'' Seattle manager Bob Melvin said. ``That is just ridiculous. For him to start talking to our pitcher is uncalled for. I understand he is trying to stand up for his player, but come on.''

While Scioscia took a powder for the rest of the night, his work already was done. Tired of a sluggish offense that had been shut out on consecutive afternoons by Texas, he took dynamite to the lineup and gave the first career start to McPherson, who hit 40 home runs this year at Double-A and Triple-A but also committed 29 errors and struck out 169 times.

On Monday, the kid was all right, and so were the Angels. Two-hit by Franklin (4-16) a week ago, they rapped 11 hits and four runs off him Monday, with McPherson leading the way.

He cracked his first three major-league hits and drove in his first run, drew a walk that produced another run and played near-flawless third base.

Gabe Lacques, [phone]

gabe.lacques(at)sgvn.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero grimaces in pain after getting hit in the head with a fastball in the first.

(2) Angels manager Mike Scioscia, left, argues with home plate umpire Wally Bell, center, before being ejected in the first inning.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

Box:

(1) STORY LINES

(2) ANGELS 5, MARINERS 2