Abbott Makes Progress Against Giants

Jim Abbott looked glum as he stood in the middle of the visitors’ clubhouse at Scottsdale Stadium, even though he had just pitched three shutout innings against the San Francisco Giants.

“It’s another step,” said Abbott, trying to rebound from a 2-18 record and 7.48 earned-run average last season. “I want to be able to take a small step each time I pitch.”

Abbott gave up three hits with one strikeout and three walks against a Giant lineup that did not include Barry Bonds, J.T. Snow or Jose Vizcaino. Abbott threw 39 pitches, 21 of them strikes.

*

The Angels (0-7) still can’t win. This time, they let a 4-0 lead slip away, lost two pop-ups in the sun in the ninth inning and were beaten by the Giants, 6-5.

Former Cal State Fullerton standout Dante Powell’s double off reliever Pete Janicki in the bottom of the ninth drove in the winning run.

*

Third baseman Dave Hollins continues to impress. He had a two-run homer and a double and scored three runs. . . . First baseman Darin Erstad had two doubles and a single, and outfielder Kevin Bass had a bases-empty homer, a run-scoring sacrifice fly and a run-scoring double. . . . Left-handed reliever Mike Holtz, slowed because of shoulder tendinitis, pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning in his first appearance this spring. . . . Jorge Fabregas, expected to share the catching duties with Jim Leyritz, agreed to contract terms.