BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Angels Get AIDS Warning in New York

Remembering Magic Johnson’s disclosure last November that he tested positive for HIV, the Major League Players Assn. is urging its members to be tested for AIDS.

The Angels on Tuesday heard a lecture from representatives of the players’ association and its doctors, warning about the spread of AIDS. Every team that comes through New York is required to hear the presentation, and Angel player representative Scott Bailes said he and his teammates found it informative.

“Magic had a lot to do with it. A lot of times athletes get the idea that things that happen to other people don’t happen to them, but Magic proved it can happen to them, too,” Bailes said. “The more questions you ask, the more you know and the better off you are.”

Manager Buck Rodgers sees Chuck Finley’s recent tendency to give up home runs as a sign Finley is frequently falling behind in the count and not that Finley has lost any velocity.

Finley gave up two home runs in the Angels’ 7-2 loss to the New York Yankees on Monday for a season total of nine homers in 32 1/3 innings.

“His velocity’s been good, the same as last year,” Rodgers said. “He can’t just challenge guys high, high, high. He’s got to mix his pitches and get ahead in the count. When he’s had his bad innings, it’s when he’s pitched from behind.”

Hubie Brooks’ second-inning homer Tuesday was his first hit in 11 at-bats on this trip. . . . Shortstop Gary DiSarcina, who kept his batting average above .300 most of the season, is in a two-for-16 slump that has reduced his average to .270. “It’ll be interesting to see how he handles it, coming out of it,” Rodgers said. “He’s in a little lull. It started in Boston, and I think he put a little pressure on himself because his family was there. We all do that. He’s in a little leveling-off period. I’m not worried about him at this point, but we’ll continue to observe him.”

Outfielder Tim Salmon led the Angels’ triple-A Edmonton team with a .363 batting average, nine home runs and 39 RBIs in 38 games through Monday. First baseman Don Barbara, formerly of Cal State Long Beach, was hitting .355 after 35 games with four homers and 24 RBIs. Scott Lewis is 3-0 with a 2.67 earned-run average.