Angels’ Rude Awakening : Baseball: The defense seems to be still on vacation with five errors in a 7-3 loss to the Indians.

The Angels returned from the All-Star break Thursday, eagerly telling tales of their vacations, curious to find out if they really can be contenders in the crazy American League West.

Chili Davis and Mike Butcher told teammates of being in a sinking boat, 10 miles from Santa Catalina Island, wondering if they would make it back.

Second baseman Torey Lovullo learned his wife is pregnant with a son, bullpen coach Rick Turner celebrated the birth of his first child and leadoff hitter Luis Polonia decided a poem about life would provide more inspiration in his locker than his voodoo dolls.

Then they took the field at Cleveland Stadium, losing, 7-3, to the Indians.

The Angels committed a season-high five errors, three in one inning. Scott Sanderson lost his seventh consecutive start, matching the longest such streak of his career, set in 1982 when he pitched for the Montreal Expos. And the front-office said it will not procure any high-profile reinforcements for the second-half drive.

Welcome back, fellas.

“This wasn’t quite the way we planned it,” said third baseman Rene Gonzales, who committed one error and made another when he was thrown out on the basepaths after running through third-base coach Ken Macha’s stop sign. “I did some things tonight that I haven’t done since I played for Harry’s Radiator.”

Said Angel Manager Buck Rodgers: “It was like we had anti-leather repellent (on our gloves). When they beat us--and you beat yourself--you don’t have much of a chance to win.”

Losing their fifth consecutive road game, the Angels realize that mistakes will have to be kept to a minimum if they are going to be more than curious spectators in September.

While the Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers are in a bidding war for Cincinnati Red pitcher Tim Belcher . . . the Atlanta Braves are on the verge of acquiring San Diego first baseman Fred McGriff . . . the Baltimore Orioles are attempting to grab Red third baseman Chris Sabo . . . and Montreal starter Dennis Martinez figures he won’t be returning home . . . the Angels are standing pat.

Sure, they realize that being in fifth place, only three games behind the Chicago White Sox, still qualifies them as contenders. Realistically, they say, it’s also silly to get caught up in pennant fever in mid-July and aren’t about to abandon their rebuilding plan for a quick fix.

“We’re way ahead of schedule in what we’ve wanted to do,” said Dan O’Brien, Angel vice president/baseball operations, “and we’re not going to throw that away. We’re not going to give up our prospects, because we’re going to need those guys.”

If the Angels are to remain on the leader board, Scott Sanderson (7-9) must win. He hasn’t since May 27, with the Angels winning only one of his last nine starts.

His critical mistake on the mound was in the fourth inning when Albert Belle hit a hanging curveball for a three-run homer, but Sanderson blames his seventh-inning throwing error for the defeat.

Tied, 3-3, in the seventh, Cleveland first baseman Paul Sorrento singled to center field. Reggie Jefferson bunted to the left side of the mound, but when Sanderson picked it up, he threw it down the right-field line, advancing Sorrento to third and Jefferson to second.

“I don’t ever remember doing that in my entire career,” Sanderson said. “By messing that play up, I threw the game away.”

Cleveland and Sanderson’s own teammates made him pay. Alvaro Espinoza singled in a run. Felix Fermin hit a double-play grounder through Lovullo’s legs. Junior Ortiz hit a sacrifice fly, right fielder Tim Salmon’s throw skipping under first baseman J.T. Snow’s glove, advancing Fermin.

When the inning finally ended, Cleveland had a 7-3 lead and the crowd of 21,085 at Cleveland Stadium headed to the parking lots thoroughly entertained.