James Burns: By finishing the BoSox, Fuentes made everyone forget his troubles

I know it doesn't make sense, because he has the contract, the name above his locker and all those appearances, but Brian Fuentes became a Los Angeles Angel last Sunday.

I mean a full-fledged, official, face-of-a-team Angel. Like a Vladimir Guerrero or a John Lackey or a Chone Figgins.

There he was, Merced's sidearm save artist, our very own Major Leaguer, buried at the bottom of a human dog-pile.

With a funky, left-handed delivery and three consecutive outs, Fuentes nailed down the Boston Red Sox, the American League divisional series and any doubts that may have lingered about his stature in the game today.

The best closer in baseball, at least statistically, finally looked like the best closer in baseball.

"It was euphoric. Really, it's hard to explain," Fuentes said. "You don't really remember too much about it. I remember giving my catcher a hug and then jumping ... like little kids. Then it was all about popping champagne bottles and Bud Light."

Of course, the magic of the moment belonged to the Angels' bats, which squeezed Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon for three runs in the top of the ninth inning.

Imagine that.

"They got behind 5-2 and I went outside to do yard work," said Merced College baseball coach Chris Pedretti, Fuentes' former skipper.

"They were being so dominated, I thought it was over."

And the glory goes to an organization that somehow handled the tragic death of pitching prospect Nick Adenhart, outlasted the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners and then served its playoff nemesis a dose of its own medicine.

But if you've ever been the new kid in school or in the neighborhood -- as Fuentes is this season -- you know the only thing that separates you from the In Crowd and Loserville is that moment.

Maybe it's a sandlot home run that beats the Silver Spooners from the 'burbs. Or dancing with the doe-eyed Homecoming queen, while the whole school watches.

Or maybe it's this:

Jed Lowrie -- pop-fly. Jacoby Ellsbury -- pop-up. Dustin Pedroia -- pop-up.

Game over.

Bye-bye, Boston.

Just like that, Fuentes was vindicated, acquitted of the "Maybe we should have paid K-Rod" charge.

He flashed the sort of stunned smile you only see when a guy down on his luck hits a triple-cherry jackpot with his last quarter.

With his million-dollar arm in the sky, Fuentes let the emotion of the moment wash over him.

He was happy, no doubt.

"Was that my defining moment? I think so," Fuentes said, replaying the final out in his mind.

"Having 48 saves was great. Being the league leader is nice. But as a team, our goals were to make the playoffs and get by Boston. That was the biggest game I pitched in all year. To nail it down and have a clean inning made it even more special."

But he was relieved as well. Had to be.

Fuentes wasn't exactly throwing laser-guided missiles down the stretch.

We will give him this: The former Merced College standout converted his final seven save opportunities, finishing with a major-league best 48 for the season.

If a closer is measured by saves, Fuentes was the best. Top of the list. Numero uno.

But he had to work hard over the last month or so. Fuentes threw more pitches (194), gave up more hits (13) and faced more batters (51) in September than any other month in the season.

"He'd gone through a rough patch," Pedretti said, "but it pretty much happens to him every year. He always seems to have a week where it doesn't happen for him -- and it happens all at once."

From Sept. 8-16, Fuentes blew two saves and took a tough loss to the Chicago White Sox on the chin. The Los Angeles Times reported that it got so dicey at the end of games that manager Mike Scioscia began to turn to rookie Kevin Jepsen to take some of the heat off his top fireman.

"Mike has stuck with me through thick and thin," Fuentes told the Times. "I feel I can get anybody out at any time.

"That's his job, to tell me when to pitch, and I'll go whenever he needs me. To have the whole inning to myself feels awesome."

His reward: A bigger stage, a tougher opponent and another chance to elevate his stature among baseball fans.

The Angels take on the vaunted Yankees today at new Yankee Stadium in Game 1 of the ALCS. The winner of this best-of-seven series advances to the World Series.

And if you're truly measured by the moments you own -- or those that own you -- Fuentes isn't satisfied with just a dog-pile and Bud Light shower to close the ALDS...

As nice as it was.

"I've always been one with a short memory," Fuentes said. "My most important save is my next one -- whether I've done 25 in a row or dropped three or four. The one in Boston was great, but my next save is always going to be my most important."

In other words...

Fire up the band, Fuentes wants another dance with the Homecoming queen.

James Burns is sports editor of the Sun-Star. He can be reached at jburns@mercedsun-star.com.