Angels Win in Six

Anaheim (AP) - Corey Patterson was an excellent No. 9 hitter for the Angels all season. He had almost been an after-thought in a deal that brought Bobby Abreu to Anaheim in the offseason. But he had been relatively quiet in the postseason (2 RBIs) until the crucial Game 6 vs. Minnesota. His 2-run HR in the 9th snapped a 4-4 tie and lifted the Angels to their first MSL title. Also in that game, Patterson tripled home a run and threw a runner out at the plate.

Congrats to Bob Petersen on guiding the Twins to a fine season. We had fun playing a very hard-fought series. The Angels were thankful that it didn't go a seventh game because waiting in the wings was Johan Santana, who had beaten Anaheim twice and was 5-0 in the postseason.

GAME 1
Minnesota 4, Anaheim 2
Johan Santana, with relief help from Todd Jones, thwarts the Angels. Carlos Lee drives home all four Twins runs; the big blow being a 3-run HR in the 5th. The Angels hit into three double plays.

GAME 2
Anaheim 12, Minnesota 8
The Angels rallied from a 6-3 deficit against Roy Halladay. Down 7-6 in the 6th, Anaheim bounced back on a 2-run HR by Bobby Abreu. Bengie Molina's grand slam in the 8th added insurance runs.

GAME 3
Anaheim 6, Minnesota 2
The Angels snapped a 1-1 tie with three runs in the 6th. Alfonso Soriano hit a solo HR and Abreu added a 2-run double. Noah Lowry allowed 5 hits in 6 innings for the victory.

GAME 4
Minnesota 2, Anaheim 1
Santana struck out 8 and tossed a 7-hitter for his 5th victory of the postseason. Aubrey Huff hit a HR in the 1st and Ichiro added an RBI single in the 5th. Molina pulled the Angels within 2-1 with an RBI single in the 7th. But the losers again hit into three DPs, including one by Josh Barfield with the bases loaded an one out in the 3rd.

GAME 5
Anaheim 4, Minnesota 3
The Twins jumped to a 2-0 lead in the 2nd on a Huff HR and an RBI double Tony Graffanino. But the Angels responded in the 3rd on an RBI by Abreu and a 2-run single by Adam Lind. Abreu's RBI double made it 4-2 in the 4th. Brett Myers, who allowed only 5 hits in 8 innings, maintained that lead until giving away to Joe Nathan in the 9th. But, Aaron Hill doubled, went to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-3. Corey Koskie followed with a single, but Jack Wilson hit into a DP to end the game.

GAME 6
Anaheim 6, Minnesota 4
The Angels scored three times in the 3rd on a 2-run single by Mike Lamb and a sac fly by Carlos Delgado. Corey Patterson's RBI triple upped the lead to 4-0 in the 4th. But the Twins started to chip away on RBIs by Hill in the 4th and Wilson in the 7th. But after Wilson's hit, he tried to score from first on a double by Hill -- only to be nailed at the plate by Patterson. Set-up ace Takashi Saito came on in the 8th for the Angels, but was greeted by solo homers from David Ortiz and Carlos Lee. With the game tied going into the bottom of the 9th, pinch-hitter Maicer Izturis led off with a walk. Patterson was asked to sacrifice, but with a two-strike count, the bunt was taken off. And, he responded with his Series-winning HR.