BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Langston on Track to Start in Texas

One day after impressing Angel teammates and management during a four-inning simulated game, Mark Langston said his left arm felt fine. He will play catch today and, if he remains pain free, probably will start against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday at Arlington, Tex.

Langston underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery on April 12 after only one start, a victory over Minnesota on opening day.

“Langston and (Chuck) Finley have to be the horses for us,” Manager Buck Rodgers said. “If they don’t win, we’re not going to win. If they don’t get 15 to 17 wins (each), we’re going to be in trouble.”

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The results of an MRI exam, a CAT scan and X-rays on first baseman Eduardo Perez’s injured wrist were all negative. The status of Perez, suffering from a sprained ligament, is listed as day to day and Rodgers said he will be available by Tuesday.

Don’t expect the Angels to call up J.T. Snow to replace Perez any time soon, however. For starters, Rodgers is pleased with the play of Jim Edmonds.

“I had no idea Jimmy Edmonds could play first base that well,” Rodgers said. “I want J.T. to come up here when he’s hot. It’s not an automatic that J.T. is coming up. I think J.T. can still be a major league first baseman.”

Snow is batting .287 with four home runs and 20 RBIs at triple-A Vancouver.

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Bo Jackson ended a 21-at-bat slump with a run-scoring single in the first inning. It was his first hit against Oakland since Sept. 18, 1991, when he was with the Chicago White Sox. . . . Rookie catcher Jorge Fabregas went two for four with an RBI. He is batting .371 in 11 games since Greg Myers went on the disabled list. . . . Dennis Eckersley’s first save, in his fourth save opportunity of the season, on Saturday night came in the Athletics’ 30th game. He had five saves, in nine opportunities, after 30 games last season. . . . The AL West was 23-50 against the AL East before Sunday’s games.