The Los Angeles Angels are 17-7 since the All-Star break, and only the 18-6 Yankees have a better second-half record. The Angels have outscored the Yankees since the break, however, averaging a major league-best 6.71 runs a game. That’s nearly a run better than any other club.

A key to the Angels’ success has been the team’s ability to execute with runners in scoring position. There are a few surprises among the second-half run producers, as second baseman Maicer Izturis leads all major leaguers with 19 post-break RBIs with runners in scoring position. He’s just one of a number of Angels who have come through in those situations.

Angels with RISP since All-Star Break

Batter. . . . . . . . . . AB. . . . . H. . . . .2B. . . . .3B. . . . HR. . . . .RBI. . . . . AVG
Maicer Izturis. . . . . 21. . . . . .9. . . . . 0. . . . . .0. . . . . .4. . . . . .19 . . . . .429
Kendry Morales. . . .24. . . . . .9. . . . . 2. . . . . .0. . . . . .3. . . . . .17. . . . . .375
Bobby Abreu. . . . . .23. . . . .13. . . . . 3. . . . . .0. . . . . .0. . . . . .16. . . . . .565
Erick Aybar. . . . . . .26 . . . . . 8. . . . . 2. . . . . .1. . . . . .0. . . . . .14. . . . . .308

Izturis, who is hitting .331 since June 22, has a pair of four-RBI performances in August. What may be most surprising about Izturis’ recent surge are his four home runs in the second half, all with runners in scoring position.

Kendry Morales has 10 home runs and 26 RBIs in 20 games since the All-Star break -- both totals are the most in the American League -- and he drove in six runs with a pair of three-run homers off Twins pitching on Aug. 2. Like Izturis, Morales has been on his game with runners in scoring position.

Bobby Abreu is a .400 hitter since July 24, a span in which he has hit safely in 14 of 16 games. He’s scored 14 runs and driven in 14 over this stretch. With a .565 average with runners in scoring position since the break, Abreu has the highest mark among all big league regulars

Erick Aybar batted .414 in July. He’s cooled off a bit in August, but he’s still hitting .347 in the second half and has driven in 14 runs with runners in scoring position.

The Angels overcame a host of injuries to the rotation early in the season, thanks to solid contributions from others who weren’t expected to play key roles. The same has happened with Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter out, and it’s a credit to the likes of Izturis, Morales, Abreu and Aybar that the Angels have built a lead in the AL West without their star players.