A Glove Save for Angels

It was a tale of two shortstops Monday night in Kauffman Stadium, where the fortunes of Angel veteran Gary DiSarcina and Kansas City Royal rookie Felix Martinez provided the most compelling subplots in a story played out before 14,502 fans.

And while DiSarcina may not win many head-to-head duels with premier American League shortstops such as Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Jeter, he was the clear-cut winner in this matchup.

DiSarcina had a career-high four hits and preserved a tie score with a spectacular double play in the seventh inning, while Martinez’s ninth-inning error allowed the Angels to score the go-ahead runs in a 6-3 victory.

“No doubt, Gary is overlooked in this league,” Angel Manager Terry Collins said. “But I know one thing--my guy is a clutch player, and he makes every play, whether they’re routine or hard.”

His seventh-inning stab of Dean Palmer’s one-hop smash, which DiSarcina called a “pea-rod” and second baseman Justin Baughman thought “would eat [DiSarcina] up alive,” was as hard as they come.

There were runners on first and third and one out when DiSarcina lunged to his left for the sinking liner, which bounced on the dirt about four feet in front of him. With his momentum carrying him toward center field, DiSarcina made a perfect backhand flip to Baughman to start the double play.

“I didn’t think I had a chance when he first hit it,” DiSarcina said. “I just threw my glove out there, closed my eyes and it went in. Justin made a nice turn, and that was the turning point of the game. It was a real momentum-killer for them.”

With the score tied, 3-3, DiSarcina then singled to open the top of the ninth, took third on Darin Erstad’s single off the leg of reliever Hipolito Pichardo, and Craig Shipley was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Left-hander Matt Whisenant came on to face Jim Edmonds and, with the infield in, got Edmonds to ground sharply to short. But the ball went right through Martinez’s legs, and two runs scored.

Norberto Martin added run-scoring single, and closer Troy Percival pitched a scoreless ninth for his 15th save. Shigetoshi Hasegawa, in relief of Omar Olivares and pitched a scoreless eighth, got the win.

“I don’t care how ugly it is, it’s a win, and we’ll take it,” Collins said. “Those are hard to get.”

Ugly was in Monday night. Olivares, who gave up three runs--two earned--and struck out seven in another strong outing, threw a pickoff attempt about 12 rows behind the Royal dugout in the fifth when the ball slipped out of his hand.

Olivares also took his eye off, and then dropped, Baughman’s throw to first on Jose Offerman’s fifth-inning grounder for his second error.

There were several fiery exchanges between the Royals and the umpires, and Kansas City third baseman Terry Pendleton (fourth inning) and Manager Tony Muser (ninth) were both ejected.

But on the flip side were bases-empty home runs by Royal first baseman Jeff King (fourth inning) and Angel designated hitter Tim Salmon (sixth), diving catches by Angel third baseman Dave Hollins (fourth) and center fielder Edmonds (fifth), and Royal left fielder Jeff Conine’s leaping grab of Hollins’ seventh-inning drive before crashing into the wall.

Then, of course, there was DiSarcina’s play, which the Angel shortstop said was much more gratifying then his third-inning double, his fifth-inning bunt single (part of a two-run rally) and his singles to start the seventh and ninth innings.

“I take more pride in the double play than the four hits,” DiSarcina said. “If I boot that ball and we lose and I get four hits, it doesn’t matter. Those are the things you have to do when your lineup isn’t going the way it should. We have to do those little things to stay in games.”