Abbott, Angels Hobble Rangers : Baseball: He gives up six singles in 7 1/3 innings. Harvey finishes 3-0 victory.

Jim Abbott’s concentration couldn’t be shaken, not by the cloying heat of the Texas night and not by a lineup that featured two of the American League’s top hitters and three of its top run producers.

“This was the first time I played behind him, and the thing I picked up on as a player is the energy he puts into the game,” first baseman Alvin Davis said after the Angels’ 3-0 victory over the Rangers at Arlington Stadium on Monday night. “That type of attitude from your pitcher helps you. You really pick up on it.”

When Abbott rose to the challenge of facing the Rangers, so did his Angel teammates. Helped by the team’s first error-free game this season, Abbott and Bryan Harvey combined on a six-hit shutout that spoiled the Rangers’ home opener before 41,129.

The Rangers began the game with a .294 team batting average, but Abbott (1-1) limited them to six singles, and only one runner reached third. Rafael Palmeiro and Ruben Sierra were hitless in a combined seven at-bats against him, and third baseman Dean Palmer, a .435 hitter in Texas’ first seven games, was hitless in four at-bats.

“Abbott had outstanding stuff,” said Ranger Manager Bobby Valentine, whose team won six of its first seven games. “We helped him out with a lot of high swings, but you have to tip your hat to him for the way he pitched.”

Palmer posed perhaps Abbott’s biggest test in the second inning, after back-to-back singles by Juan Gonzalez and Brian Downing. Pitching calmly and efficiently, Abbott defused the threat by getting Palmer to ground into a double play begun by shortstop Gary DiSarcina.

“That was a big play. You know it’s going to be a battle down here,” Abbott said.

“Even in a good game, you’re going to have times you struggle because they have such a powerful lineup. The double play was great, especially Alvin Davis scooping the ball out of the dirt to finish it off.”

Davis, who will remain in the lineup while Lee Stevens (.071) works on his swing, drove a 3-and-2 pitch off the fence in right-center field during the sixth inning to score Von Hayes with the Angels’ first run against Jose Guzman (1-1).

The Angels added two runs in the seventh, aided by a misplay typical of the shoddy fielding they displayed in their first few games. DiSarcina opened the inning with a single to left and Luis Polonia followed with a bunt toward third. Palmer threw it away, enabling DiSarcina to score and Polonia to reach third. Polonia scored on Junior Felix’s sacrifice to center, ensuring the end of Guzman’s personal seven-game winning streak against the Angels.

“It was nice someone gave us a run instead of us giving up runs,” said Manager Buck Rodgers, whose team committed 14 errors in its first six games.

“Jimmy Abbott did a heck of a job against an awfully hot-hitting Texas Ranger club, and Harv did his usual superb job of finishing. You get good pitching, you catch the ball well and you get some timely hitting, anybody would like to play this kind of game.”

They played nothing remotely like it in losing their first four games of the season, three to the White Sox and one to the Brewers. They now have won three in a row.

“I think we were haunted by that first series against Chicago. Frankly, I don’t think we could have played much worse,” Abbott said. “Unfortunately, because those were the first three games of the season, people thought that was how good we were going to be.”

They were good enough to prevail Monday because when Abbott faltered, Harvey stepped in. After Abbott gave up singles to Ivan Rodriguez and Monty Fariss, Rodgers summoned Harvey to face Palmeiro and Sierra. Harvey struck each out on three pitches.

Gonzalez grounded out to lead off the ninth, but Harvey struck out pinch-hitter Geno Petralli and Palmer to end the game.

“Those boys can hit,” Harvey said of the Rangers. “I was getting lucky. Lance (Parrish) was setting up on the outside corner, and the umpire was giving it to us.

“It feels good to get a win for Jimmy. The bullpen pitched pretty bad behind him last season and his first game (last Wednesday), he pitches well but the defense was a little shaky.”