Abbott Leaves Angels in Hole

If not now, then when? If not the Kansas City Royals, then who?

Facing perhaps the weakest lineup in the major leagues Tuesday, Angel starter Jim Abbott still couldn’t win at Anaheim Stadium. After throwing five shutout innings, Abbott faltered late and the Angels lost, 5-3, before 14,657.

“It was just a lack of execution,” Abbott said. “I just did a poor job of pitching at the end of the game. . . . I pitched poorly. I let the team down and we lost because of it.”

That’s five losses in nine starts at Anaheim Stadium for Abbott since he was traded from the Chicago White Sox last July 27. His earned-run average is a lofty 7.44 since returning.

And that certainly wasn’t Murderers Row beating Abbott on Tuesday.

Try Joe Vitiello and Michael Tucker. Vitiello’s run-scoring double enabled the Royals to tie the Angels, 2-2, in the sixth. Tucker put them ahead with a bases-empty home run in the seventh. Vitiello then put Kansas City in front to stay, 5-3, with a two-run homer in the eighth.

“I just made a big, big mistake walking [Tom] Goodwin,” said Abbott, 1-5 with a 5.67 ERA in seven starts this year. “Then, I hung a slider to a good hitter, who hit it out of the park.”

Manager Marcel Lachemann later fell on a sword for allowing Abbott to pitch to Vitiello, who has hit four of his nine career homers at Anaheim Stadium.

“I just didn’t pull the trigger,” Lachemann said of not using reliever Mike James.

He also acknowledged that Abbott’s recent failures at Anaheim Stadium have become a concern.

“I can’t say we haven’t talked about it,” Lachemann said. “He’s pitched well in this ballpark as a visiting pitcher with the Yankees and the White Sox and while he pitched here [for the Angels from 1989-92].”

And to think, the Royals went into the game with only 18 home runs, fewest in the major leagues and only seven more than Angel center fielder Jim Edmonds. Kansas City also had scored the fewest runs in the American League.

Former Angel Julio Valera pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief to win his first game since May 28, 1993. Closer Jeff Montgomery earned his eighth save.