BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Abbott Can’t Get Comfortable at Home

Pitcher Jim Abbott, hailed as the final piece to the Angels’ playoff puzzle when he was acquired in a virtual four-for-one swap with the White Sox July 27, has been puzzling in recent weeks.

The left-hander feels no different pitching at home than he does on the road, but he is 4-1 with a 1.99 earned-run average on the road and 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA at home since joining the Angels.

“That’s the most frustrating thing about this,” said Abbott, who has been hit hard in four of his last five starts. “I feel like I’m doing things right, throwing the ball well, but winning is the most important thing, and I’m not doing that now. I’ll take responsibility for that.”

Manager Marcel Lachemann said Abbott “might be pressing a bit” at home, trying to impress the fans who have been so receptive to his return to the Angels, trying to show the front office it made a good trade.

“That’s not a factor,” Abbott said. “You’ve just got to make your pitches.”

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Angel batting instructor Rod Carew left the team because of “personal reasons.” A team spokesman said the Angels have given Carew “as long as he needs” to attend to his needs, but he’ll probably return for tonight’s game against Chicago. . . . Reserve outfielder Dave Gallagher, on the disabled list since Aug. 24 because of a strained left rib cage, was activated before Monday night’s game.