Resilient Angels survive

One the Angels began hitting, San Francisco couldn't stop them.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- It took 61/3 innings for the Anaheim Angels to begin hitting in Game 6 of the World Series. Once Scott Spiezio got the Angels started, San Francisco couldn't stop them.
Spiezio, who has come through in the clutch throughout the postseason, hit a three-run homer in the seventh, and the Angels scored three more runs in the eighth to beat the Giants 6-5, forcing a seventh and deciding game Sunday.
Manager Mike Scioscia and hitting coach Mickey Hatcher have often spoke of the Angels' resilience. Never was it more apparent than in this game.
The Giants seemed a lock to win their first Series since 1954 when Russ Ortiz, armed with a 5-0 lead, struck out Garret Anderson to begin the seventh.
Ortiz had allowed only two hits and faced three over the minimum at that stage.
Angels rally
That's when the Angels came alive.
First it was Troy Glaus and Brad Fullmer with singles, putting an end to Ortiz's night.
Then, the switch-hitting Spiezio hit a full-count pitch from Felix Rodriguez into the right field seats -- just beyond the reach of Reggie Sanders -- to cut the Giant's lead to two runs.
The three RBIs gave Spiezio 19 in the postseason, tying the record set by Sandy Alomar Jr., of the Cleveland Indians in 1997.
Darin Erstad homered off Tim Worrell to open the eighth, giving the Angels 24 homers in their 16 postseason games.
Tim Salmon and Garret Anderson followed with singles, with left fielder Barry Bonds' error allowing Anderson to reach second after Salmon went to third.
Glaus foils strategy
Giants manager Dusty Baker opted for closer Robb Nen, and Glaus foiled the strategy by hitting a two-run double to left-center to put the Angels ahead.
Troy Percival pitched the ninth for his second save in the Series and sixth in as many chances in the postseason.
The Angels also overcame a five-run deficit to the New York Yankees in the division series, winning the third game 9-6 after trailing 6-1 after 21/2 innings.
This time, they waited to rally.
Overcame obstacles
To reach a seventh game of the Series, the Angels have had to overcome many obstacles.
First was their miserable 6-14 start -- worst in franchise history.
They wound up winning a club-record 99 games to earn the AL wild-card berth.
Then, they had to beat New York after losing Game 1 of the division series to end the Yankees' streak of four straight Series berths.
Next, the Angels lost to Minnesota in Game 1 of the AL championship series before winning four straight.
And now, they had to overcome a 5-0 deficit with one out and nobody on in the seventh.
Six of the last seven times a team came home down 3-2 in the Series, the home team rallied to win it.
The Angels are in position to make it seven of eight.