by Tracy Ringolsby

The bully is back.

Check out those standings.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim climbed back atop the division for the first time since they won on Opening Day, and on Wednesday night, as well as handing Colorado back-to-back losses for the first time in three weeks, the Angels took sole possession of the top spot in the division for the first time all season.

They aren't looking back.

They have won nine of their last 12 — taking two of three from a Colorado team that has won 17 of its last 20. The Angels and Red Sox share the distinction of being the only American League teams with winning records at home and on the road. And they already have enjoyed 18 come-from-behind victories, including using a two-run eighth for a 4-3 victory against the Rockies on Tuesday before routing them on Wednesday.

Oh, the bullpen is a bit of a juggling act with Scott Shields having undergone knee surgery and been lost for the season, and Kelvim Escobar most likely also a season-long casualty with his recurring shoulder problems.

All, however, is not lost. They have put together a solid rotation. They have found that Brian Fuentes may work best with manager Mike Scioscia's eyes closed, but he never backs down nor complains and rarely fails to close out a victory.

And on Wednesday night, what the Angels have waited for and wondered about all season arrived — the explosive bat of Vladimir Guerrero, the missing ingredient in a lineup that has been good but has been in need of a game-breaking hitter in the cleanup role.

Brian Fuentes has settled in as a reliable closer for the Angels. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)

Tuesday, Guerrero shaved off his dreadlocks.

"They found the Dead Sea Scrolls in there,'' said manager Mike Scioscia.

Wednesday, Guerrero shrugged off a season-long power outage.

First inning, he lined a double off the center-field fence at Angels Stadium, driving in the first run in an 11-3 victory against the Rockies.

Second inning, he lined a home run over the fence in left-center for a 6-0 lead.

And suddenly everything seemed right in the Angels' world.

"It feels good,'' said center fielder Torri Hunter. "All the things we've been through this season, we just kept battling. Finally we're here (in first place). Now we have to stay here.''

No reason to doubt the Angels' ability to do that.

Who, after all, is strong enough to spoil the Angels' postseason plans?

Not Oakland, which may have seen GM Billy Beane take an offseason shot by bringing in the high-priced likes of Jason Giambi and Matt Holliday, but hasn't seen anything close to a payoff in the stands.

Not Seattle, which has overachieved its way to .500 and the fringes of the divisional and wild-card races, but is just a tad short in the rotation, bullpen and lineup.

Not Texas, which enjoyed its early season perch atop the division, but is realizing its purpose was merely to keep the seat warm for the Angels.

Anaheim has survived the on-field challenge of having three of the projected five members of the rotation on the disabled list, thanks in part to the truth-is-stranger-than-fiction 6-0 start to the season for 30-year-old rookie Matt Palmer, and the recent arrival of highly regarded Sean O'Sullivan.

They have had their bullpen problems — their seven losses in games in which they led in the eighth is only one shy of their total for a year ago. Fuentes, however, leads the AL with 20 saves, providing assurance that he might not overpower like predecessor Francisco Rodriguez, but he can handle the job.

They have dealt emotionally and professionally with the tragic death of young right-hander Nick Adenhart, the fatal victim of an allegedly drunk driver's transgression.

"It's never been about how we would deal with it,'' said Scioscia. "It's about how his family deals with the tragedy. It's with every one of us every day, until we walk on the field. One thing about this game, once the first pitch his thrown, it provides you a chance to block out everything else in life. It forces you to focus on what is happening on the field.''

And they have moved on despite Guerrero's run of injuries that limited his time to get ready for the season, and then stymied him to the point that his home run on Wednesday was his first in 28 games, two shy of the longest drought of his career.

"It is important to be comfortable,'' said Guerrero. "I am getting comfortable.''

All along, Scioscia has assured visitors that Guerrero still had the bat speed that allowed him to average 31 home runs over the last five years. Guerrero, however, was still trying to get in sync, having spent the spring rehabbing from knee surgery, and then finding himself sidelined during the regular season by a torn right pectoral muscle.

"He's one of those hitters you are always aware of when he is coming up next,'' said Rockies manager Jim Tracy. "You know he is capable of breaking a game open.''

And for anyone who was wondering if Guerrero still had what it takes, he provided a reminder of what he is capable of doing on Wednesday.