BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Ripken Says He Won’t Ease Up

Baltimore shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., who made consecutive start No. 2,038 Monday night against the Angels, said he has not changed his approach to the game or off-field routines as Lou Gehrig’s record of 2,130 consecutive games draws near.

“A lot of people have started thinking things, like maybe I shouldn’t play basketball in the offseason or do any work in the yard,” Ripken said. “But you insulate yourself from injury by playing hard. If you go easy, you’re not going to be on guard, and that’s when you get hurt.”

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Angel Manager Marcel Lachemann was there for Reggie Jackson’s 500th home run, Rod Carew’s 3,000th hit, Don Sutton’s 300th victory, Mike Witt’s perfect game and, barring rainouts or injury, he’ll be in Baltimore the day Ripken breaks Gehrig’s record on Sept. 6.

“That’ll be a great thrill, a great day in baseball,” Lachemann said. “I just hope I’m around for it. . . . I know he will be.”

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Spike Owen made his fifth start at third base in the past six games in place of Eduardo Perez, but Lachemann said the job is still “a day-to-day thing.”