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Everything goes to plan for Angels in rout of Blue Jays

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Every B-grade adventure movie has a scene in which the intrepid hero, finding himself in a fix, comes up with an escape plan that has seemingly no chance of succeeding.

That’s where the Angels find themselves now. Despite Tuesday’s 10-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, the Angels trail Texas by 4 1/2 games in the American League West pending the result of the Rangers’ night game in Oakland.

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In the wild-card race, Boston, which was still playing when the Angels’ game ended, is only slightly closer. And there are only eight games left in which to catch the Red Sox.

Yet in the Angels’ clubhouse, hope remains.

“We still have a plan,” outfielder Torii Hunter said. “All is not lost. [But] we’ve got to make it happen. We’ve got to battle.”

Here’s the plan: The Angels win their next five games against Toronto and Oakland and hope the Rangers lose at least two of their final six against the Athletics and Seattle. That would set up a three-game season-ending series with Texas next week to decide the division title. Anything less and the Angels can start planning their winter vacations. “We just need to be within three come Monday,” Hunter said. “We’d better step our game up if we want it.’

They certainly stepped up big Tuesday, sending eight batters to the plate in both the third and fourth innings when they scored eight times, overcoming a 2-1 deficit to put the game away.

Rookie Mark Trumbo had a run-scoring single and a three-run homer in the rally, extending his team-high totals to 29 and 87, respectively. Erick Aybar also stole home -- without a slide -- on a blown squeeze attempt, becoming the first Angel to steal home in more than two seasons.

Vernon Wells added two hits, including his 23rd home run of the season, with seven of the Angels starters contributing to the 15-hit attack. It was the second time in three games the Angels had 15 hits, and both times at least eight of them went for extra bases.

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Peter Bourjos and Alberto Callaspo each had three hits -- two of Callaspo’s were doubles -- while Bourjos scored twice. Trumbo, Wells, Hunter and Howie Kendrick had two hits apiece, with Kendrick and Hunter scoring twice.

That made for a rare easy night for right-hander Joel Pineiro (7-7), who won for only the second time since the All-Star break. Pineiro gave up four runs, although two of them came home after he had departed in the seventh inning.

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-- Kevin Baxter, reporting from Toronto

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