BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Bandwagon or Not, Crowds Welcomed

Better check the shocks on that Angel bandwagon. The payload increased dramatically this week with Anaheim Stadium crowds of more than 30,000 for each of the three games against the first-place Indians.

But Angel right fielder Tim Salmon was more appreciative of the recent fan support than critical of the lack of support for the first two months of the season, when crowds usually hovered around the 15,000 mark.

“It was pretty exciting, no question about it,” Salmon said of the Cleveland series. “We saw how important the fans were in Cleveland last week, and this week they were important for us.

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If the Angels are unable to acquire a quality starting pitcher to bolster the rotation by Monday’s trading deadline, it won’t be for lack of effort.

General Manager Bill Bavasi has been furiously pursuing at least seven pitchers believed to be available--Jim Abbott (Chicago White Sox), Ken Hill and Mike Morgan (St. Louis), David Cone (Toronto), Kevin Tapani (Minnesota), Bret Saberhagen (New York Mets) and Jeff Fassero (Montreal).

“With the number of calls we’re making we’re becoming known as the Pests of the West,” Bavasi said.

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Chili Davis’ grand slam Wednesday was the sixth of his career and marked the 15th consecutive game in which the Angels have homered, three shy of the team record of 18. . . . The Angels stole a season-high three bases against the Indians. . . . Jim Edmonds had his 11-game hitting streak snapped, and Anderson had his eight-game hitting streak stopped.