PROTEST MOOT AFTER VICTORY ANGELS 5, DETROIT 4.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - It was something one might expect to see in a Little League game, but all the commotion early in the Angels' game against the Detroit Tigers turned out to be nothing more than a lot of hot air.

The Angels played the game under protest after a bizarre set of circumstances in the second and third innings when the Tigers batted out of order, but the protest was dropped because the Angels rallied for a 5-4 win before 23,391 at Edison Field, completing a three-game sweep.

The win moved the Angels to within one game of first place in the American League West behind the Seattle Mariners, who lost to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. The Angels' lead in the wild-card race remains at two games over the Red Sox.

Angels starter Ramon Ortiz (10-9) became the third Angels starter to reach double figures in victories after going 6 1/3 innings. Scott Spiezio drove in three runs with two hits and Darin Erstad drove in the game-winner with a pinch-hit RBI double in the sixth inning. Troy Percival closed it out with a scoreless ninth inning for his 28th save.

It had to be good news for the commissioner's office, which won't have to deal with the headache all the paperwork of a protest can create.

With one on and one out in the top of the second inning, the Tigers' No. 7 hitter, Shane Halter, flied out for the second out. No. 8 hitter Brandon Inge was due up next, but No. 9 hitter Chris Truby batted instead and struck out.

Because Truby struck out, Angels manager Mike Scioscia did not appeal the Tigers batting out of order. Then in the top of the third, the Tigers sent out leadoff hitter Hiram Bocachica, which got Scioscia out of the dugout and onto the field for a lengthy conversation with all four umpires.

Because no appeal was made after Truby batted, he became the legalized batter in that spot in the order and the Tigers were correct in sending Bocachica to the plate to begin the third inning. But the Angels' protest was based on the charge the umpires assisted the Tigers, citing Rule 6.07 (d): ``The umpire shall not direct the attention of any person to the presence in the batter's box of an improper batter.''

In the fourth inning, Inge followed Halter in the order and finally got his first at-bat of the game - an RBI double to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. That brought Scioscia out of the dugout again for another lengthy discussion with crew chief Gary Darling, who was the first-base umpire.

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The Angels' Ramon Ortiz got his 10th victory of the season Wednesday in Anaheim's 5-4 victory over Detroit.

Krista Niles/Associated Press