Angels turn on the power to even the series.

Byline: Paul Sullivan

MINNEAPOLIS _ Minnesota fans were waving their Homer Hankies eagerly Wednesday night during Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, continuing a tradition that began during the Twins' championship run in 1987. But just as the `80s are a distant memory, so is the concept of the Metrodome acting as a home run haven for the Twins.

The dome was a homer-free zone for Minnesota once again Wednesday as Anaheim bounced back with a 6-3 victory to tie the ALCS at a game apiece.

The Twins have but one homer in four postseason games in Minneapolis this October, while the Angels used homers from Darin Erstad and Brad Fullmer in Game 2 to grab home-field advantage. Game 3 takes place Friday night in Anaheim, with Angels ace Jarrod Washburn facing right-hander Brad Radke, who won both of his starts against Oakland in the division series.

Minnesota was a .500 road team this year (40-40) but managed to win two of three in Oakland to advance to the ALCS. The Twins were 11-1 at the Metrodome during their postseason in their title years of `87 and `91, using the noise factor to great advantage.

Even though they went 54-27 at the dome this year, the Twins actually hit more home runs on the road than at home 99-68. Since they're only 2-2 at home in this year's postseason, perhaps a Hit-and-Run Hankie would be more appropriate if the Twins make it back for Game 6.

For five innings in Game 2, Angels starter Ramon Ortiz did his Joe Mays imitation, coming back from a horrendous outing in his first playoff start to stifle his ALCS opponent. Ortiz failed to last three innings Friday against the Yankees, but he shut out the Twins over the first five innings while being staked to a comfortable lead.

After putting themselves in a 6-0 hole, the Twins finally awoke in the sixth on Corey Koskie's RBI single and Doug Mientkiewicz's two-run single, forcing Anaheim to go to its bullpen earlier than expected. But the Angels' bullpen may be their strength, and relievers Brendan Donnelly, Francisco Rodriguez and Troy Percival shut down the Twins on one hit over the final 32/3 innings.

Minnesota had one last gasp in the eighth, putting two on with two outs. But Percival came in and caught Bobby Kielty looking at strike three, ending the suspense.

Twins starter Rick Reed, who tied a postseason record Saturday by giving up four home runs in a loss to Oakland, picked up right where he left off. Reed served up a solo homer to Erstad, the second batter he faced, putting Minnesota on the defensive early.

Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said before the game the key was to "put some more pressure on them, especially early in every inning." The Angels did just that in the second, scoring three runs thanks to some aggressive baserunning, some tentative Twins defense and a little luck. With Troy Glaus on first after a leadoff single, Fullmer dumped a hit into center and didn't stop until he had hustled to second for a double. Scott Spiezio followed by blooping one down the right-field line for another double, scoring Glaus to make it 2-0.

After Fullmer was thrown out at the plate on Adam Kennedy's comebacker to the mound, it looked as though the Twins were going to escape with minimal damage.

With runners on first and third and two outs and David Eckstein at the plate, Reed threw to first and had Kennedy picked off by 10 feet. Kennedy stumbled to the turf as he ran toward second with Mientkiewicz in pursuit. But Spiezio alertly broke for home, leaving Mientkiewicz with a key decision_chase down Kennedy and hope he tags him before Spiezio scores, or take the safe approach and throw to the plate.

Mientkiewicz opted for Door No. 2, and his throw to the plate had Spiezio beat. But catcher A.J. Pierzynski couldn't handle the toss, allowing Spiezio to score and Kennedy to go to second. Eckstein followed by slicing an 0-2 pitch into right, bringing home Kennedy to make it 4-0. Fullmer added a two-run shot off Reed in the sixth, putting the game out of reach.

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(c) 2002, Chicago Tribune.

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