This Date in Angels Postseason History: October 20

2002 - The Angels even up the World Series against the Giants at a game apiece with a win at home

If there is anything negative to the big comeback of Game Six in the 2002 World Series, it may be how it minimized the awesomeness that was Game Two.

The Angels sent nine men to the plate in the bottom of the first inning, scoring five runs on six hits, the fifth being a delayed steal of home by Brad Fullmer on a double steal with Scott Spiezio swiping 2B. Blazing on a Sunday afternoon! If only Kevin Appier could keep it... nope, he couldn't. The Giants roared back with four runs in the top of the second inning on a three run homer by Reggie Sanders and a dinger by the very next batter David Bell.

In the bottom of the second Tim Salmon hit a two-run home run to make it 7-4. A Jeff Kent solo homer in the next frame made it 7-5. That was it for Appier and John Lackey relieved. Things were quiet in the fourth but Lackey put two Giants on in the fifth and gave way to Ben Weber. Four hits in 2/3 of an inning pitched made it 9-7 Giants.

Spiezio sac-flied in a run in the sixth and Garret Anderson tied it up at nine apiece in the seventh, all the while Frankie Rodriguez pitched three hitless innings. With two outs and man on 1B, Salmon hit his second two-run homer of the game to break the tie and make it 11-9 Angels.

Troy Percival gave up a two-out home run to Barry Bonds and got Benito Santiago to pop out for the final out, the Save, the victory and the first Angels win in World Series game.

2009 - The Angels lose to the Yankees 10-1 to make the ALCS a 3-1 series in the Yanks' favor.

Scott Kazmir gave the Angels a glimpse of what was to come when he gave up three runs in the fourth inning of a scoreless game. In the fifth, Mark Teixeira got a hit and Kaz was pulled for Jason Bulger. Scioscia had quietly been integrating Bulger into tight spots in games during the postseason, but this was so early in the game and so much hung in the balance and so there went a home run by Alex Rodriguez and it is 5-0 Yankees.

It was 5-1 late and Matt Palmer gave the Yankees a batting practice session and the final score was a gruesome 10-1. Ugh.