BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Why They Call It the Windy City

It was strange seeing former Angel Jim Abbott starting for the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night and Scott Sanderson, a former White Sox pitcher, starting for the Angels.

But even more bizarre were the plays that led to the Angels losing the 2-0 lead they built in the third inning on Jim Edmonds’ two-run single.

Edmonds, a smooth-fielding outfielder noted for getting good jumps on the ball, froze on Ray Durham’s shot to center in the fourth and watched it go over his head for an RBI triple.

Ron Karkovice then lofted a fly ball to right that appeared to catch a jet stream as it carried all the way into the corner. Tim Salmon made a long run to get to the ball, but it bounced off the heel of his glove for a three-base error, which allowed Durham to score.

“That wind was doing funny things to the ball,” first baseman J.T. Snow said. “It would knock some balls down, and other balls seem to just take off.”

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Snow, moved to the No. 5 spot behind cleanup batter Chili Davis, grounded out after the White Sox intentionally walked Davis in the ninth inning of Friday’s game.

He popped out after Davis walked in the first inning Saturday and grounded out with runners on first and second in the third, but came through with a single in the sixth and his fourth homer of the season in the eighth.

“I’ve got to protect Chili’s bat in the five hole,” Snow said. “Any time they walk the guy in front of you, you take it as a slap in the face, but I have to come through in those situations. I think I can step up, swing the bat well and make them think twice about pitching around Chili.”

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The Angels’ victory over the White Sox, combined with victories by Oakland, Seattle and Texas, marked the first time that all four AL West teams won on the same day since the introduction of the three-division format in 1994. The West is the only division yet to accomplish that feat. . . . Seven of the last 12 games between the Angels and White Sox have been decided in the winning team’s final at-bat, and the Angels have now won nine of their last 12 in Comiskey Park.

Angel closer Lee Smith recorded his league-leading ninth save and maintained his 0.00 earned run average, but he gave up singles to Frank Thomas and Mike Devereaux, the first hits he has given up since May 1. Opponents have only four hits in 10 innings off Smith. . . . Sanderson went seven innings, giving up eight hits, striking out five and walking none. Abbott struggled with his control, walking three and giving up six hits in five innings.