BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Rodgers Makes Changes in Lineup

Manager Buck Rodgers moved Damion Easley into the leadoff spot Tuesday to give Luis Polonia a chance to rest his sore legs. Rodgers also moved Tim Salmon out of the cleanup spot to third in the batting order.

Salmon hit fourth in each of the nine games he started since being summoned from triple-A Edmonton. After hitting .347 with the Trappers, he entered Tuesday’s game with a .200 (seven for 35) average with the Angels.

“Salmon can be anywhere from a (No.) 3 to a 6 hitter. That’s probably what he’ll be doing next year, depending on how he gets started,” Rodgers said. “We all feel he’s a player, but we don’t know where eventually he’s going to hit. . . . We’re not worried about him at all. He’s hit the ball hard and doesn’t have that many at bats. A two-for-four night can bring his average up.”

Polonia, who had played in a team-leading 128 games, got his first day off since July 23.

Easley, who said he hit leadoff for Edmonton in 10 or 15 games, was surprised to get that assignment Tuesday. “I looked in my normal eight- or nine-hole and didn’t see my name and I said, ‘Uh-oh, I got a day off,’ ” he said. “Then I looked up and saw it. I’m just happy to be in the lineup.”

Julio Valera, who missed his turn Tuesday because of an injured right index finger, threw in the bullpen Tuesday without difficulty. He’s expected to take his next turn. . . . Hubie Brooks, on rehabilitation assignment with Edmonton, was four for 20 with a home run and seven RBIs in his first seven games. . . . Cleveland catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. left Tuesday’s game in the second because of tightness in his left knee.

Jim Abbott said his agent, Scott Boras, met with Angel executives Monday to discuss a contract offer made by the team last Tuesday. However, Abbott said nothing concrete developed from the meeting. “It was, ‘Our people will get back to your people,’ ” he said.