ANGEL NOTEBOOK : Langston, Hudler Have Brief, Angry Exchange During the Heat of Playoff Battle

Television cameras caught a nasty dugout exchange between Angel pitcher Mark Langston and second baseman Rex Hudler after the Mariners scored four runs in the seventh inning Monday, but both players quickly made amends.

“I just told Mark to keep his head up, but he was still in the heat of the battle and snapped back at me,” Hudler said. “It wasn’t the right time to say something like that, but it was no big deal.”

Said Langston: “Rex is one of my closest friends and I just got caught up in the heat of the game. It’s unfortunate the TV cameras saw it, but we made up afterwards.”

*

They have 86 homers and 276 RBIs among them, but the heart of Seattle’s order--Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner--managed only three singles and had no RBIs Monday.

But No. 2 hitter Luis Sojo had two hits and three RBIs, leadoff batter Vince Coleman had two hits and an RBI, No. 8 hitter Dan Wilson had a hit and two RBIs, and No. 9 hitter Joey Cora had a hit and an RBI.

“Sometimes it’s the little guys on the team who can make the difference,” Hudler said. “They’re a well-rounded team, and anyone in their order can beat you.”

*

Seattle pitcher Randy Johnson, who ended a Mariner losing streak for the 13th time this season, is pretty excited about recent crowds in the Kingdome, which have been in the 50,000-range.

“When I first got here, if you wanted to see any people in this place you had to go to a Seahawks game,” Johnson said. “We’re kind of stuck up here in the Northwest, and all we’re known for is grunge rock, Starbuck’s and Microsoft. But now we’re becoming a baseball town.”

*

Johnson, as usual, was the dominant force Monday, but that could cost the Mariners against New York.

Because Johnson pitched Monday, he will only be able to start once against the Yankees in the five-game series. Chris Bosio and Andy Benes will start the first two games against New York. Johnson will start Friday or Saturday.

“The Yankees have a huge advantage,” Seattle Manager Lou Piniella said. “I don’t want to sound like Sparky Anderson, but they’re sitting at home, well rested, and we’ve got to catch a plane and play [today]. But adrenaline is a key factor, and we’ll be ready to play.”