Angels Need to Go on the Defensive : Baseball: Lachemann blames recent slide on poor play in the field. Snow’s hitting bails out team against Orioles.

The Angels and Boston Red Sox are the only two major league teams that have not lost four consecutive games this season.

The Angels almost didn’t hold up their end Thursday. They had lost five of seven after being swept by the Red Sox, but ended their skid with a 6-4 victory over Baltimore.

And the reason the Angels have struggled is simple: the gloves had started to come off.

During the team’s recent slide, Manager Marcel Lachemann says the hitting and pitching have held up. But the defense has not been sharp.

“We just haven’t played as well defensively,” Lachemann said. “Everyone said how great the hitting was, but we knew we couldn’t sustain that level all season. When you’re hot you just ride it as long as you can. The pitching will have ups and downs, but it’s been fine.

“But defensively we need to pick it up. Part of it has been the change in personnel; they have to get acclimated. But they should be settled in.”

The obvious missing link in the defense is shortstop Gary DiSarcina, who is out until at least the end of the regular season with torn ligaments in his left thumb.

Damion Easley, however, has the range and arm to plug the hole in the field. Rex Hudler and Chico Lind have to platoon at second, with Spike Owen ready to go wherever needed.

If the Angels are to hold off Texas, Hudler reasons, defense will be the reason it happens.

“This is when the real players step up,” Hudler said. “This is the time you live and work for. Every game is a big game now. You have to want the ball hit to you, you have to want to make the play.

“We are where we are because of our defense. Our No. 1 focus now is to catch the ball, and we have the people who can do it.”

It’s not as if the Angels turned into bumbling clods overnight. California entered the game with the league’s sixth best defense, with 71 errors in 110 games. (Baltimore has the fewest errors in the AL with 60 in 109 games.) But since Aug. 18, the Angels have averaged an error a game--with four coming in the three-game series against Boston.

“When you’re not doing some things right, it’s magnified when you lose,” said Jim Edmonds, who made a nice running catch in the eighth. “Defense starts with concentration. That’s something we need a little more of right now.”

Thursday’s game was difficult enough for starter Chuck Finley. He retired the side in order twice in the first three innings, but the Orioles put the leadoff batter on base every inning after that. Still, Finley is used to working on the edge; even with the Angels averaging more than eight runs in his 12 previous victories, Finley can’t forget starting the year 0-4, and not reaching .500 until June 18.

California had a nicely turned double play with the bases loaded in the fourth. But when the Angels defense leaked in the sixth, Baltimore--trailing 4-2--promptly got back in the game.

After Bobby Bonilla led off with a single, he went to second on a wild pitch. Jorge Fabregas compounded the situation by throwing past Rex Hudler into center field, and Bonilla reached third.

Cal Ripken Jr. hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Bonilla. Chris Hoiles then hit his second homer of the game to tie the score, 4-4.

J.T. Snow’s four runs batted in made the matter moot Thursday. But he agrees the team must make an improvement as the regular season nears its conclusion.

“When your defense falters, it’s usually due to lack of concentration,” Snow said. “There’s no reason not to be ready for the ball hit to you.

“The old adage is true--pitching and defense win games, and defense wins championships. It’s up to us to make the right plays at the right time.”