The 2002 American League Championship Series (ALCS) was a matchup between the Wild Card Anaheim Angels and the Central Division Champion Minnesota Twins. The Angels advanced to the Series after dethroning the reigning four-time AL Champion New York Yankees in the 2002 American League Division Series three games to one. The Twins made their way into the Series after beating the Athletics three games to two. The Angels won the Series four games to one and went on to defeat the San Francisco Giants in the 2002 World Series.

[edit] Summary

[edit] Minnesota Twins vs. Anaheim Angels

Anaheim wins the series, 4–1.

[edit] Game summaries

[edit] Game 1

Tuesday, October 8, 2002 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota

WP: Joe Mays (1–0)  LP: Kevin Appier (0–1)  SV: Eddie Guardado (1)  

Joe Mays outdueled Kevin Appier as the Twins won Game 1. A.J. Pierzynski hit a sac fly to put the Twins out in front first, but the Angels tied it the next inning on an error by Cristian Guzmán. The Twins would take a one-run lead when Corey Koskie doubled in a run in the fifth. The game would remain scoreless and Eddie Guardado would get the save.

[edit] Game 2

Wednesday, October 9, 2002 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota

WP: Ramon Ortiz (1–0)  LP: Rick Reed (0–1)  SV: Troy Percival (1)  
HRs:  ANA – Darin Erstad (1), Brad Fullmer (1)

The Angels would take their first lead in the series when Darin Erstad hit a solo home run in the first with one out. The Angels would score three more in the second. Scott Spiezio would double in the first run of the inning. In a bizarre play, Spiezio stole home while Adam Kennedy tried to steal second. He was caught up in the rundown and knocked the ball away from Pierzynski, although no one called interference. Adam Kennedy went to third and would score on David Eckstein's RBI single to make it 4–0 Angels. A two-run homer by Brad Fullmer gave the Angels a six-run lead. A three-run sixth inning, capped off by a two-run Doug Mientkiewicz single, cut the lead in half. Troy Percival would save the game as the score remained unchanged.

[edit] Game 3

Friday, October 11, 2002 at Edison International Field of Anaheim in Anaheim, California

WP: Francisco Rodríguez (1–0)  LP: J.C. Romero (0–1)  SV: Troy Percival (2)  
HRs:  ANA – Garret Anderson (1), Troy Glaus (1)

Garrett Anderson started the scoring by hitting a lead-off home run in the second. Eric Milton and Jarrod Washburn dueled for seven innings. The game was tied thanks to an RBI double by Jacque Jones in the seventh. In the bottom of the eighth, Troy Glaus hit the go-ahead home run to put the Angels on top 2–1. Troy Percival got the save in the ninth and red-hot reliever Francisco Rodríguez got the win in relief of Washburn.

[edit] Game 4

Saturday, October 12, 2002 at Edison International Field of Anaheim in Anaheim, California

WP: John Lackey (1–0)  LP: Brad Radke (0–1)  

The game remained scoreless into the seventh inning as Brad Radke and John Lackey waged a classic pitcher's duel. But, the Angels would strike in the bottom of the seventh. Troy Glaus and Scott Spiezio drove in two runs in that inning to make it 2–0 Angels. But, the Angels would seek insurance and got plenty of it. A five-run eighth inning, capped off by a two-run double by Brad Fullmer and a two-run triple by Bengie Molina, would seal the win.

[edit] Game 5

Sunday, October 13, 2002 at Edison International Field of Anaheim in Anaheim, California

WP: Francisco Rodríguez (2–0)  LP: Johan Santana (0–1)  
HRs:  ANA – Adam Kennedy 3 (3), Scott Spiezio (1)

Game 1 winner Joe Mays took the mound to try and send the series back to the Metrodome. He was opposed by Kevin Appier and things certainly looked good for the Twins early. David Ortiz drove in the first run of the game in the first to make it 1–0 Twins. The next inning, A.J. Pierzynski singled in a run to make it 2–0. But the lead would be cut in half on an Adam Kennedy home run. Then, the Angels would take the lead in the bottom of the fifth. A leadoff homer by Scott Spiezio and the second home run of the day by Kennedy make it 3–2 Angels. A bases-loaded walk, however, tied the game at three in the seventh. Then, a wild pitch and a sac fly gave the Twins a 5–3 lead. But the Angels would put the game and the series away with one of the most offensive half-innings in postseason history. Two straight singles by the Angels put two on and nobody out for Kennedy. Having only hit seven homers during the regular season, hitting three would be very unlikely in one game. He would then join a small group of players ever to hit three home runs in a single postseason game. His three-run homer gave the Angels a 6–5 lead. But the Angels were far from done. They would score seven more runs in the inning, mostly on singles. The Angels would never let up and they would go on to win the series and their first ever pennant.

[edit] Composite box

2002 ALCS (4–1): Anaheim Angels over Minnesota Twins

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• 2002 ALCS at Baseball-Reference