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 July 27 in a virtual four-for-one swap with the White Sox, has been simply puzzling in recent weeks.

The left-hander feels the same pitching at home as he does on the road, but the statistics tell a different story. He feels he’s pitching as well now as he was in late July and early August, but the results haven’t been there.

“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.”

Abbott, who lasted only 4 2/3 innings and couldn’t hold a five-run lead in Sunday’s loss to Minnesota, 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.

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Angel batting instructor Rod Carew took a leave Monday 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 likely 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’s game.

Shortstop Gary DiSarcina, out since Aug. 4 because of a thumb injury, will have his left hand X-rayed today to determine if his recovery is on course. DiSarcina took some swings off a soft toss Sunday, and Lachemann said there’s a “50-50 chance” he’ll return before the end of the regular season.