McDowell Was in Trouble From the Start

Pitcher Jack McDowell’s return from off-season elbow and shoulder surgery took a hit Monday . . . several of them.

McDowell lasted three-plus innings against the Kansas City Royals, leaving after giving up three consecutive hits to start the fourth. It was his first poor performance after two solid starts--both losses.

He gave up nine runs, equaling his career high, on 10 hits, which included home runs by Jermaine Dye and Carlos Febles.

McDowell was in trouble from the start, giving up four hits then hitting a batter before getting an out in the first inning. The Royals scored five runs in the first, during which McDowell seemed angered by some of home plate umpire Al Clark’s calls.

After Jeremy Giambi walked on a close 3-2 pitch, McDowell woofed at Clark. When Clark answered back, McDowell stalked toward the plate and Manager Terry Collins had to rush from the dugout to intercede.

First baseman Mo Vaughn then dragged McDowell away.

McDowell was 0-2 entering the game, but had a 2.25 earned-run average. He had pitched into the sixth inning in both starts.

*

The Angels ran wild, by their standards, on Sunday.

Orlando Palmeiro walked and stole second in the first inning. Darin Erstad singled and stole second in the second. Erstad then scored on a single by Troy Glaus.

It was only the sixth time this season that the Angels have stolen more than one base in a game, and the first since June 20.

The Angels were last in the major leagues with 40 stolen bases before Monday’s game. Randy Velarde, traded to Oakland last week, had 12 of those.

Erstad, who had 23 stolen bases in 1997 and 20 last season, is the only speed in the lineup. He has nine stolen bases this season.

“It’s tough to steal when you’re never on base,” said Erstad, who has struggled at the plate.

It hasn’t only been the stolen bases, though. The Angels have not seemed as aggressive on the base paths as they were the first two seasons under Collins.

“We really ran the bases well the first two years,” Collins said after Sunday’s game. “It wasn’t so much that we stole bases, but we stayed aggressive. I would like us to get back to that.”

That again, Erstad said, comes down to getting guys on base.

“We’ve missed some hit and runs and haven’t moved guys over sometimes,” Erstad said. “But when you’re not getting guys on base, you can’t do the stuff you should be doing.”

*

The Angels designated outfielder Reggie Williams for assignment to make room on the roster for Edmonds. . . . Tim Belcher, out since breaking the pinky finger on his right hand, threw in the bullpen Monday and will return to rotation later this week, probably Friday when the Angels play the Boston Red Sox. . . . Andy Sheets’ fifth-inning single snapped a 0-for-25 streak.

ANGELS’

MIKE FYHRIE

(0-2, 5.57 ERA)

vs.

ROYALS’

JEFF SUPPAN

(5-6, 4.12 ERA)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Fox Sports West.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--The Angels have never gone through a season without a starting pitcher winning at least 10 games. With Omar Olivares gone--he was 8-9 before being traded to Oakland--the top winner among Angel starters are Belcher, Chuck Finley and Sparks, who all have five.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.