TALE OF TWO HALVES: ANGELS BURY ATHLETICS, WITHIN 1/2-GAME OF FIRST ANGELS 10, OAKLAND 3.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - John Lackey would never be called ``John Lucky,'' not with the combination of bad luck and oftentimes little support he's received from the Angels' offense and defense this season.

His 4-8 record going into Monday night's game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium could be attributed in large part to fluke plays that have gone against him, to say nothing of an offense that had scored more than three runs in only four of his 13 starts.

But the 6-foot-6 right-hander can hope that Monday's 10-3 victory is a sign of things to come, a sign that Lackey can pitch well enough to overcome a bad call by an umpire or a dropped pop fly.

The victory moved the Angels to within a half-game of Oakland and Texas for first place in the American League West. The Angels have beaten the A's in five of seven games this season.

Vladimir Guerrero had four hits and four RBI, including a tape-measure home run to center field estimated at 446 feet, as part of the Angels' 13-hit attack. But the difference was Lackey, who wasn't affected by a fifth inning during which the A's scored two gift runs to take a 2-0 lead.

With one out and Erubiel Durazo (double) on second base, Bobby Crosby hit a popup to shallow left-center field. Shortstop David Eckstein, second baseman Adam Kennedy and center fielder Garret Anderson converged.

Eckstein called for the ball, but he bumped into Kennedy trying to make the catch, then kicked the ball. Crosby was given credit for a double and Durazo, who had stayed close to second base, moved to third.

Lackey appeared to get the all-important second out of the inning when he surprised Damian Miller with a fastball on the inside corner for what should have been strike-three.

But home-plate umpire Ed Montague ruled it a ball.

However, Lackey wasn't fazed by the questionable call, striking out Miller with a breaking ball just off the dirt. One out away from escaping unscathed, Lackey tried the same pitch on a 1-2 count to Marco Scutaro, but Scutaro hit it into left field for a two-run single.

In the past, such an inning might lead to Lackey's undoing.

This time, however, Lackey responded by not allowing another A's baserunner to get as far as second. Lackey went eight innings, allowing the two runs and seven hits to improve to 5-8. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.

Of course, Lackey needed - and got - some help from the offense.

After Lackey yielded the two runs in the top of the fifth, the Angels responded with four runs off A's starter Rich Harden (3-5) in the bottom of the inning. The key hit of the inning was by Eckstein, who came to the plate with runners on first and second and one out.

With the runners on the move on a 3-2 count, Eckstein went the other way with a 94-mph fastball, hitting it into right field to score both baserunners and tie it 2-2.

Guerrero added an RBI single and Garret Anderson an RBI double to put the Angels up, 4-2.

Bengie Molina made it 5-2 in the sixth with an RBI double, and Guerrero's blast in the seventh gave the Angels a 6-2 lead.

Joe Haakenson, [phone]

joe.haakenson(at)sgvn.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Angels' Vladimir Guerrero singles home David Eckstein in the fifth inning against Oakland during Monday night's 10-3 victory.

(2) Second baseman Adam Kennedy safely slides past A's catcher Damian Miller during the Angels' 10-3 victory.

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

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