World Series has open date

ANAHEIM, Calif., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Friday is an open date in the 2002 World Series, with the San Francisco Giants one win away from being world champions after a 16-4 rout of the Anaheim Angels in Game Five Thursday night.

The Giants have a three games to two lead.

The Giants are looking for their first title since 1954, when the franchise was in New York. The Angels are seeking the first title in franchise history.

The Angels scored 24 runs in the first three games of the series and took a 2-1 series lead. but the Giants evened the Fall Classic with a 4-3 win Wednesday before Thursday night's rout.

The rest of the Fall Classic will be played at Edison International Field in Anaheim.

"I think we have enough gas in our tank to do what we need to do," said Angels Manager Mike Scioscia, who is looking for a repeat of last year, when the Arizona Diamondbacks won the final two games at home after trailing, three games to two, and beat the New York Yankees, 4-3.

Saturday, the Angels will need a much better start from Kevin Appier, who yielded three homers and five earned runs in just two innings in Game Two, an 11-10 win for the Angels.

The Giants will be counting on Russ Ortiz to rebound from a rough Game Two in which he allowed seven runs and nine hits in 1 2/3 innings.

"I want to be the guy," Ortiz said. "I'm going to do everything I can to beat the Angels. After last Sunday, I think I know what I was doing wrong in my execution and location. It wasn't a mechanical problem. It was the way I was thinking."

Jeff Kent had three hits, including a pair of two-run homers, and four RBI, and Rich Aurilia and Benito Santiago drove in three runs apiece in the rout Thursday.

Ironically, the Giants are 8-0 in the postseason when slugger Barry Bonds is held without a home run.