Edmonds Hoofs It Despite Pain : Baseball: Doctors aren’t sure what’s wrong with his foot, but his hustle home helps Angels win in 11th inning.

Bad left foot and all, Jim Edmonds sprinted around third base and headed for home.

With one out in bottom of the 11th inning and the score tied, 3-3, there was really nowhere else for Edmonds to go.

Gary DiSarcina deposited a single into right field and Edmonds went for broke, heading for home and the victory.

The throw to the plate from Chicago right fielder Mike Devereaux beat Edmonds by a considerable margin, but catcher Ron Karkovice dropped the ball. Edmonds was safe and the Angels were winners, 4-3.

“They were playing pretty shallow and when I was halfway around third I thought I might be in trouble,” Edmonds said.

Running hasn’t been Edmonds’ strong suit, particularly since his left foot began ailing him late last month. He said it doesn’t hinder his speed, but “it sure doesn’t feel good.”

Doctors have been monitoring what they called a “hot” spot.

They probably should check his bat while they’re at it.

Edmonds has been on a torrid streak at the plate, and he hasn’t played a bad brand of center field either.

At the conclusion of recent games, Edmonds has sat with his foot encased in an ice pack. Only at those times is it possible to tell there’s anything wrong with him.

Saturday, in addition to scoring the winning run, he contributed three singles and drew a walk in the Angels’ pivotal two-run, score-tying rally in the ninth inning.

It seemed business as usual.

A second-inning single off Chicago starter Jim Abbott pushed Edmonds’ hitting streak to a career-best 13 games. It’s the longest Angel hitting streak since Chad Curtis hit safely in 18 consecutive games from Aug. 18 to Sept. 5, 1993.

During Edmonds’ 13-game reign of terror, he’s batting .389 (21 for 54). He was hitting .230 the day before the streak began. Now, he’s at a far more respectable .278.

The White Sox got him out only once, on a fly ball in the fifth inning.

He led off the 11th by cracking a single to center off reliever Tim Fortugno. Spike Owen popped out trying to bunt. Jorge Fabregas followed with a single, serving a pitch into left field.

DiSarcina then dumped a single in front of Devereaux.

Edmonds got a decent jump off second, steamed around third and would have been out if Karkovice had held onto the ball.

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If you’re perplexed as to why the White Sox began Saturday 16 games behind American League Central-leading Cleveland, there is a simple answer. It’s the pitching.

They began the game with the league’s second-worst staff earned-run average at 5.26. Only Minnesota was worse at 6.37.

Abbott was outstanding from the start, but when he left with Chicago ahead, 3-1, in the ninth inning, things went south quickly.

Rob Dibble, Scott Radinsky and Roberto Hernandez conspired to blow the lead and enable the Angels to pull even, 3-3.

It was a classic bullpen meltdown and left Abbott out of what should have been his fourth victory in six decisions.