Rangers Traveling the Same Track

The Angels and the Texas Rangers seem to be caught in one of those anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better (or worse) duets.

When the Angels were busy winning four games in a row last week, the Rangers won five in a row. When the Rangers lost two consecutive games over the weekend, the Angels lost three in a row.

As a result, the Angels have not lost much ground to the Rangers, who have a six-game lead in the American League West. Nor have they gained any.

“The Rangers seem to have everything going for them,” Angel third baseman Dave Hollins said. “They’re healthy . . . [Juan] Gonzalez has 61 RBIs, a bunch of other guys are tearing it up. . . .

“I think we’re a better team than we’ve showed so far. To be five or six games down, considering how well Texas has been playing, you have to take some positive out of that.”

Hollins’ comment was in response to a question specifically about Texas, but if Manager Terry Collins had his way, the Rangers would not be mentioned in the Angel clubhouse--at least not this early in the season.

“We can’t worry about what Texas is doing,” Collins said. “We have control over one thing, what our guys do.”

The Angels don’t have much control over injuries, though. The disabled list grew by one with Sunday’s addition of pitcher Allen Watson, and catcher Todd Greene’s future--which the Angels thought would include a big league recall this week--is now in doubt because of another shoulder setback.

“You can feel the frustration here, you can see the expressions on faces,” Collins said. “But we can’t moan about guys being hurt. We’ve got to learn how to battle through the injuries, the bad news, the things we can’t control.

“If you’re not good enough, you have to change things, but I think what we have is good enough. Each and every guy just has to get better.”

*

Jack McDowell’s elbow has apparently taken a turn for the better, so the right-hander will pitch Sunday in Minnesota, as opposed to taking 10 days between starts. . . . Reliever Mike James continues to make progress toward recovery from an arm injury, and the Angels eagerly await his return. Since James went on the disabled list May 5, Rich DeLucia, Pep Harris and Mike Holtz have combined to give up 18 earned runs in 16 2/3 innings, an earned-run average of 9.72. “Right now we’re not making the pitches we’re capable of making and that we have to make,” Collins said. “Those guys [in the bullpen] are paid to get guys out.” . . . Collins’ ejection Monday night was his fourth as Angel manager and came only moments after he began arguing with umpire Durwood Merrill. “I know what to say wrong,” Collins said. . . . Since peaking at .317 on May 16, shortstop Gary DiSarcina has gone three for 30, his average dipping to .275. . . . Cecil Fielder and Darin Erstad are the only Angels who have started and played in all 49 games.

ON DECK

ANGELS’ OMAR OLIVARES (2-1, 3.12 ERA)

vs.

ROYALS’ JOSE ROSADO (0-4, 5.26 ERA)

Edison International Field, 7:30 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West.

Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090), KIK-FM (94.3)

* Update--Olivares is a rarity among Angel pitchers, a right-hander who has actually exceeded expectations this season. Since replacing McDowell in the rotation on May 1, Olivares has gone 1-1 with a 3.13 ERA in five starts, including a complete-game, eight-hitter in a 10-3 victory over Minnesota on Friday night. Rosado, who is looking for his first victory of the season, has a 2-0 career record in four games against the Angels, but the trio of Garret Anderson, Hollins and Fielder is hitting a combined .500 (12 for 24) against the Royal left-hander, who has fallen on hard times since making the all-star team last season.