Even With Edmonds Back, Angels Far From Heavenly

It wasn’t exactly a prodigal-type return. And by the end of the first inning, it certainly didn’t qualify as divine intervention.

But Jim Edmonds strolled to the plate in the second inning Monday, listened to the warm reception from Angel fans, exchanged a couple friendly words with Kansas City catcher Chad Kreuter and . . . grounded out on the first pitch.

There have been no quick fixes for the Angels. Their 12-4 loss to the Royals at Edison Field underscored that once again.

Gary DiSarcina returned from a broken bone in his left forearm. The Angels were swept by the Texas Rangers a week later.

Tim Salmon returned from a sprained left wrist. The Angels were swept by the Rangers a few days later.

Edmonds returned from shoulder surgery, gets two hits, but the Angels don’t play the Rangers again until the last three days of the season.

“Everybody thinks we’re going to be instantly great because Jim Edmonds is in the lineup,” Manager Terry Collins said. “He has had 20 at-bats in Class-A ball. It’s going to take him time, just like it took Tim time. Just like it took Gary time.

“It’s not easy to play the game at this level. If there’s one guy who can make it look easy, it’s Jim Edmonds. But it’s not easy.”

Edmonds, who was used as the designated hitter, made it look easy Monday. He had a single, a double, scored a run and drove in a run--not a bad way to lobby for the Angels to pick up his $4.65-million option for next season.

“I’ve always said that if you call Jim Edmonds up for a game on Dec. 10, he’ll get two hits,” Collins said.

It was a bit of a struggle, to be sure. But who could tell in this lineup? Edmonds didn’t look any more rusty than the rest of the Angel batters. In fact, he looked more polished.

Edmonds’ seventh-inning single, which followed Todd Greene’s single, was sharper than any ball the Angels hit through the first six innings. Edmonds then raced home on Troy Glaus’ two-run double to right, sliding to beat second baseman Carlos Febles’ relay throw.

Edmonds lay there for a second, taking inventory.

“I didn’t run out of gas, I ran out of legs,” Edmonds said. “I kind of got my legs tangled up timing the slide. I’m surprised I didn’t fall on face.”

The Angels did. But Edmonds didn’t.

In the eighth, Edmonds doubled into the right-field corner, scoring Greene from first.

“The hardest part has been not being around,” Edmonds said. “To watch the games on TV and watch us struggle hurt. If I had been here, I could have done something. I mean, I not just another body in the lineup.”

Edmonds got a close-up view of the Angel struggles Monday. By the time the top of the first was over, the Royals had a 5-0 lead.

Starter Jack McDowell gave up three consecutive hits to start the game--for a 1-0 Royal lead--then hit the next batter.

The Royals poured it on from there, with home runs by Febles, Jermaine Dye and Joe Randa. It was not a momentum builder for the Angels, who have lost 15 of 17.

“We need to spend the next two months getting back to what we can do,” Salmon said. “Then we need to take the winter off to get fresh in our heads. When healthy, we have a good team. I believe that.”

Edmonds made a case for it. He was slowed during spring training because of a strained groin and lower back spasms, but it was his shoulder that kept him out. He underwent surgery April 19.

He spent the last week on a rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Lake Elsinore, where he had eight hits in 19 at-bats.

He was cleared by doctors to play before the game, but only as a designated hitter.