Polonia Sinks His Teeth Into Perez’s Forkball : Angels: Lead-off batter’s two-run single in third inning is the difference against Yankees.

As a leadoff hitter, Luis Polonia should expect to see empty bases when he steps into the batter’s box.

Not so Wednesday night.

Polonia’s two-run single that scored Gary DiSarcina and Rene Gonzales in the third inning proved to be the difference in the Angels’ 3-2 victory over the Yankees at Anaheim Stadium.

With shortstop DiSarcina, the Angels’ No. 9 batter, hitting .307 this season, Polonia is getting plenty of opportunities to drive in runs.

But he isn’t.

“I think you have to give Gary a lot of credit,” Polonia said. “The guy’s always on base. It’s nice to go up to the plate with somebody on base.

“Situations like that open up the game, give you more to work with.”

But Polonia hasn’t been doing much with the opportunities DiSarcina has given him.

Polonia entered Wednesday’s game with only seven RBIs and has been struggling somewhat at the plate, especially at home. He hit .283 in his first 19 games before a strong eight-game road trip to Toronto, Cleveland and Detroit (11 for 34) raised his average to .297.

“Every time I get out of here and go on the road, I start hitting better,” Polonia said. “I have a pretty good idea what it is--a lack of concentration.

“I never seem to key on a pitch when I’m at home. I just go up there and start swinging at everything. But on the road, I just try to concentrate harder.”

His concentration was tested with one out in the third, with Gonzales on third base and DiSarcina on second. Polonia was facing Melido Perez.

“Melido’s tough,” Polonia said. “I’ve faced him a lot and he always pitches me the same way. He has one of the best forkballs in the league, and he can surprise you with that fastball. He’s not an easy one to beat.”

Polonia was only one-for-four against Perez Wednesday night. But his two-run single came off Perez’ best pitch--a forkball.

The play was a hit-and-run, with both runners scoring on Polonia’s high-hopping ground ball that went off the outstretched glove of Yankee shortstop Dave Silvestri and into center field.

“That probably wouldn’t have been a double-play ball (had Silvestri got to the ball) because we were running,” Polonia said. “That’s the way we play this year. We hit-and-run, bowl guys over, the sacrifice fly. We’re doing all the little things.”

If Polonia has his way, they’ll keep doing them.

“We have to do those things,” he said. “We have to be aggressive.”

Polonia said the Angels are being written off early in the season. They’re 14-13 and still very much in the American League West race. It’s still early, but Polonia is optimistic.

“People don’t think we are going to do much this year,” he said. “That’s fine, there’s no pressure on us. Last year was a different situation, everyone said the Angels were supposed to win, and we didn’t.

“This year, if we finish last, it’s like ‘Big deal, we were supposed to do that.’ ”

As for Polonia, he wants to push his average back over .300. And maybe pick up an RBI or two.

He certainly has the spiritual motivation.

After the game, he turned to Joe Vu, the twisted, contorted voodoo doll that makes his home in Polonia’s locker.

“Joe’s still with me,” he said. “He’s still my main man. He promised me another .300 season. And we’ll get it.”