BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Whoever He Is, He Has 15 Saves

Closer Lee Smith, who retired the side in order in the ninth inning of the Angels’ 10-8 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night for his 15th save, is going through something of an identity crisis during this trip.

“A cabbie here [in Boston] told me, ‘Have a good night, Wes.’ He thought I was [Red Sox outfielder] Wes Chamberlain,” Smith said. “Another guy in a restaurant thought I played for the New England Patriots.

“When we were in New York, someone called me [New York Giant linebacker] Pepper Johnson. They call me Chili [Davis] and Eduardo [Perez] at home, so you know they’re going to screw it up on the road.”

*

The Angels sent reliever Ken Edenfield to triple-A Vancouver to make room on the roster for pitcher Russ Springer, who will start tonight’s game at Baltimore. Edenfield had a 4.26 earned-run average in seven appearances with the Angels.

When Boston’s Lee Tinsley scored on an error in the sixth inning, it marked only the second time one of Angel reliever Bob Patterson’s 23 inherited runners has scored. The error, which came when catcher Jorge Fabregas’ throw to second hit Mo Vaughn, also ended the Angels’ six-game, 56-inning errorless streak.

The Angels’ four-run first inning was their largest first inning of the season, but when they blew a five-run lead in the fourth, it was the largest lead they have surrendered this season.

*

Second baseman Damion Easley and catcher Andy Allanson made their first appearances in the field since last weekend, both entering the game in the eighth inning.

Easley, sidelined because of a strained right wrist, replaced Rex Hudler and popped out with the bases loaded in the ninth. Allanson, out because of a deep cut on the back of his left hand, replaced Fabregas and struck out with the bases loaded in the ninth.

Hudler had three hits and scored a run before leaving because of a slight groin strain, and Fabregas had two hits before being replaced by a pinch- hitter.