BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Owen Owns the Edge at Third Base

Manager Marcel Lachemann won’t say Eduardo Perez has lost his third-base job, but Perez’s hold on the position is tenuous, at best.

Spike Owen, who replaced Perez as the team’s third baseman last June and hit a career-best .310, started there Thursday night, the third time in the last four games he has replaced Perez, who is struggling offensively (.180) and somewhat defensively (team-high six errors).

“Eddie will play third base, but I wouldn’t say he’s the third baseman,” Manager Marcel Lachemann said. “He has a battle on his hands. The most important thing is to win games, and if we feel Eddie is the best guy for that day, we’ll play him.”

Owen has been the best guy for that lately. His RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning Wednesday drove in the winning run in the Angels’ 3-1 victory over the Yankees, and his RBI double in the second inning Thursday night gave the Angels a 2-0 lead over the Yankees. Owen also had three hits and two RBIs in the Angels’ 15-9 victory over Minnesota on May 18.

Owen, who raised his average from .176 on May 11 to .250 entering Thursday’s game, led the American League last season with a .452 average with runners in scoring position.

“He’s been very good at getting big base hits,” Lachemann said. “He led our club in that last year and did it again Wednesday night.”

Perez, who has shuttled between triple-A Vancouver and Anaheim the past two seasons, must produce this season if he is to remain in the Angels’ plans, but the front office is not panicking after only 61 at-bats.

“He’s played well defensively and struggled offensively, and he’s probably frustrated,” General Manager Bill Bavasi said. “Give the guy a chance.”

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Lachemann didn’t see Shawn Boskie pitch last season, so he’s not exactly sure how a guy who was traded by two teams and released by another in 1994 can be transformed into one of the Angels’ most consistent starters.

Boskie, a 28-year-old right-hander, went 7 1/3 innings Wednesday night, giving up six hits and striking out five in the Angels’ 3-1 victory over the Yankees. Boskie (2-0) didn’t get a decision but did lower his earned run average to 2.88, 10th best in the league.

“Sometimes it’s a change of scenery, sometimes things just click,” Lachemann said. “Sandy Koufax couldn’t even throw the ball in the batting cage his first few years and he turned into the best left-hander ever. Sometimes it’s just a matter of time before you get everything to come together.”