BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Hudler Dreams of Sweet Spots, but Reality Is an 0-for-4 Night

Last July, Rex Hudler walked up to Texas outfielder Rusty Greer, shook his hand and said, “You owe me a dinner for setting you up with the greatest catch of your career.”

Greer’s diving catch of Hudler’s line drive leading off the ninth inning helped preserve Kenny Rogers’ perfect game against the Angels July 28 at The Ballpark in Arlington.

“I set him up for a career catch,” Hudler said Wednesday.

Hudler was back in the lineup to face Rogers, a left-hander, as Manager Marcel Lachemann loaded his lineup with right-handed hitters.

“I went to bed last night trying to visualize what he was going to throw me and I visualized hitting it on the sweet spot,” Hudler said.

He said it’s crucial to capitalize on the few mistakes standout left-handers like Rogers and Seattle’s Randy Johnson make.

“Like the hit I got off Johnson [a two-run double Saturday], I saw him the next day and he said, ‘I didn’t want to throw you a fastball in that spot, but I had to.’

“I just threw the bat at the ball.”

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Lachemann was forced to juggle his lineup when first baseman J.T. Snow came down with flu-like symptoms and could not start. A switch hitter with a career .400 average (6 for 15) against Rogers, Snow had started all 57 games this season.

“He came into the clubhouse feeling light-headed and achy,” Lachemann said.

Carlos Martinez started at first base. Hudler replaced Greg Myers as the designated hitter, Tony Phillips moved from third base to left field and Spike Owen played third.

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Phillips says he will apologize New York Yankee Manager Buck Showalter for his critical comments after his bat was seized by umpires on June 4 at Yankee Stadium. Phillips’ bat later checked out OK.

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Designated hitter Chili Davis, on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, did not start his running program on the field Wednesday, but ran in a swimming pool and lifted weights instead. Trainer Ned Bergert said Davis’ rehabilitation remains on schedule, however. . . . Reliever Mike James, who suffered a bruised right shoulder when he was hit by Greer’s liner Tuesday, played catch in the outfield. “It feels like I started last night and went about eight innings,” James said. “It’s real sore.”