ARLINGTON, TEXAS — A year ago, Sean O'Sullivan was pitching for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, the Angels' California League affiliate whose biggest rival was the Dodgers' Inland Empire club.
"Every time we played those guys," O'Sullivan said, "we stepped it up a bit."
Monday night, the 21-year-old right-hander found himself in another rivalry, this one on a far bigger stage, under brighter lights, and with much bigger stakes, and he responded just as he did in the minor leagues: He stepped it up a bit.
Making only his third big league start, O'Sullivan gave up two runs and six hits in six innings to help the Angels defeat the Texas Rangers, 5-2, at the Ballpark in Arlington in the first of six games in 10 days between the American League West rivals.
Juan Rivera and Kendry Morales each hit home runs during a four-run sixth inning, as the Angels extended their winning streak to six games, won for the 13th time in 16 games and moved 2 1/2 games ahead of the Rangers in the division.
"If you asked me at the beginning of this year if I'd be here, I would have said no way," said O'Sullivan, who started 2009 at double-A Arkansas and moved to triple-A Salt Lake in late April. "A door opened, and I'm trying to take advantage of the opportunity."
O'Sullivan, who is 2-0 with a 3.00 earned-run average, showed poise you don't expect from a player of his age and experience.
He escaped a bases-loaded, two-out jam by striking out Julio Borbon to end the first inning, and after giving up consecutive home runs to David Murphy and Marlon Byrd in the third, gave up only one hit and a walk over the next three innings.
O'Sullivan also got out of a two-on, none-out jam in the fifth inning by retiring the same hitters who burned him in the third, Murphy on a popup to second base and Byrd on a double-play grounder to third base.
Most 21-year-olds would be rattled after giving up consecutive home runs and putting their team in a 2-0 hole.
O'Sullivan?
"He was [mad]," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "He wasn't happy with the pitches. You could see him get a little more focused. . . . He's a confident young pitcher. Even though he's 21, his makeup is well beyond that. He expects to win."
The Angels rallied with a run in the fourth and four in the sixth, with Vladimir Guerrero, Rivera and Morales doing much of the damage.
Guerrero and Rivera singled with two out in the fourth, and Morales hit a run-scoring double to right field against starter Vicente Padilla.
