BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Lachemann Says He’s Done Tinkering

Manager Marcel Lachemann tried Jim Edmonds in the lead-off spot and Tony Phillips in the No. 2 hole Saturday night. His first two batters for Sunday’s game were Dave Gallagher (.154) and Rex Hudler (.232), with usual lead-off batter Phillips and left fielder Garret Anderson on the bench.

Now Lachemann says he’s finished tinkering with the lineup. There are 12 games left in the regular season, and Lachemann will go with the order he has used for most of the year, with Phillips leading off, Edmonds batting second, followed by Tim Salmon, Chili Davis, J.T. Snow and Anderson.

Second baseman Damion Easley, who hasn’t started since spraining his left knee last Monday night, played the ninth inning on defense Sunday and will be back in the starting lineup at Oakland tonight.

“It’s in their hands,” Lachemann said. “Take it, boys, and run with it.”

Players welcomed the news.

“That’s what got us here, and that’s what we need to go with now,” Snow said.

*

Shortstop Gary DiSarcina, tired of being a cheerleader during his six-week stint on the disabled list because of a torn ligament in his left thumb, was activated Sunday and hopes to return to the starting lineup by this weekend.

The all-star infielder, who was hitting .317 before his Aug. 3 injury, took batting practice from the normal, 60-foot distance for the first time Sunday and reported no serious discomfort.

He has been taking ground balls for more than a week, and he might be a pinch-runner or defensive replacement before the weekend.

“I was just taking up space in a uniform and felt pretty much useless,” DiSarcina said. “I was watching the game [Saturday] night, and when they pinch-ran for Chili I thought, ‘I’m in good shape, I can run, I can help out on defense.’ I talked to Lach, he heard me out, and here I am.”