GOOD AND BAD NEWS FOR ANGELS BIG INNING LEADS TO WIN; COLON, GREGG ARE INJURED ANGELS 15, TAMPA BAY 6.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA  Staff Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Angels scored 15 runs Wednesday -- 10 in one inning -- but also saw two pitchers leave because of injuries.

As of now, the good news outweighs the bad.

The Angels sent 15 batters to the plate in the second inning of a 15-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and in the process chased starter Casey Fossum and his replacement, former Dodger Edwin Jackson.

But when the Angels took the field for the bottom of the second, their own starter, Bartolo Colon, was removed because of inflammation in his right elbow. Kevin Gregg took over and ultimately earned the victory by allowing two runs in 3 1/3 innings, but he left with left knee irritation.

Neither is scheduled for the disabled list yet, but more is expected to be learned in the upcoming days.

What is known is that the Angels' lineup has made a case for remaining intact through Monday's trade deadline. The Angels have been searching for a bat for more than a year now, yet Juan Rivera is performing as if to say, ``What about me?''

Rivera delivered two-run doubles in each of the first two innings and finished the day with three hits, while Maicer Izturis drove in three runs in the Angels' double-digit inning. Robb Quinlan also continued his hot hitting with two hits and three RBIs, while rookie Howie Kendrick hit the first home run of his major-league career.

``It's great to have an outburst, but I don't know if you're ever able to sit back and enjoy it because you're still pushing,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``It was a great inning to get going, but we were looking at eight innings from our bullpen, so you have other challenges.''

Kendrick started the second inning innocently enough with a walk, and Quinlan followed with a fielder's choice. The roll started with an RBI double from Jose Molina, an infield single from Chone Figgins and a two-run double from Izturis.

Orlando Cabrera's RBI single chased Fossum (4-4), and Vladimir Guerrero greeted Jackson by reaching base on an error. Rivera followed by delivering the second of his two-run doubles.

Jackson was removed before Cabrera came to the plate for the second time in the inning and was replaced by Chad Harville. Cabrera then hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

The 10 runs and nine hits were the most produced in an inning by the Angels this season and the most allowed by the Devil Rays. It was the first time the Devil Rays allowed a double-digit scoring inning at home in their history.

The half-inning lasted 34 minutes, and three Devil Rays pitchers combined to throw 56 pitches, typically a half-game's worth.

Rivera's recent production has been near-historic. He has 34 RBIs in his past 35 games, and his 10 home runs this month are one shy of Don Baylor's club record for July. Rivera has started the past 23 games and has taken advantage of the opportunity with a .366 batting average over that stretch.

``Juan's been having some kind of month, and he keeps going,'' Scioscia said. ``He got us going early in the game. I think he's feeling comfortable at the plate, because when we get some guys on base he's taking advantage of it.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) The Angels' Vladimir Guerrero doubles in the first inning Wednesday against Tampa Bay.

(2) Bartolo Colon rubs a new ball after Tampa Bay's Ty Wigginton hit the second of back-to-back home runs by the Devil Rays in the first inning.

Mike Carlson/Associated Press