ANAHEIM, Calif. -- With the World Series slipping away, Tim Salmon saved the Anaheim Angels with the night of his life.

	Salmon

He personifies the hard-luck team, the years of struggle without satisfaction. On Sunday night, when they needed him the most, Salmon came through.

With the game tied at 9 in the eighth inning after the Angels had wasted a five-run lead, Salmon sent the ball soaring into the night, an electrifying shot into the left-field bullpen at Edison Field.

It was his second two-run homer and gave him four hits and four RBI. And, after 42 years, it gave the Angels their first World Series victory, 11-10 over the Giants.

Now they head up north to San Francisco, the Series tied at 1.

''I think I made the most of my opportunities,'' he said. ''It was awesome. The way the game went back and forth was unbelievable. We knew there was going to be a hero in the dugout and tonight it was me.''

His 1,388 games had been the most among major-leaguers without a postseason appearance. At 34, he is the senior Angel, and a week earlier it was Salmon who ran around the field with the American League championship trophy like a crazed kid.

''My mouth is hurting because I've been smiling so much,'' he said after the victory over Minnesota that won the AL pennant. ''You know what? It's just joy. I'm so excited.''

His fans are as excited for him as he is for them.

After his two-run homer, he pumped a fist running the bases. After the final out, he smacked teammates with high-fives so hard it must have hurt.

When he realized he would play in the World Series, he was so overjoyed that he couldn't stop beaming. For days.

''I can't put into words what it means. It's something you dream about as a kid and as an adult,'' he said before the Series began. ''Even now, it's dreamlike. We're riding with it. After 10 years of not happening, it's like it still hasn't sunk in.''