It’s a G’day for New Second Baseman Durrington

The Angels’ new second baseman has the body of a miniature pulling guard, the voice of Crocodile Dundee and a sunny disposition that shines every time he greets a new face with his native, “G’day, mate.”

Meet Trent Durrington, a former rugby player from Australia’s Gold Coast--Queensland, to be exact--who was recalled from double-A Erie on Friday and went one for four Friday night against the Boston Red Sox.

Durrington, 23, earned the promotion by hitting .288 with 84 runs, 26 doubles, three home runs, 35 RBIs and an Eastern League-leading 59 stolen bases in 75 attempts in 107 games at Erie.

With Randy Velarde traded to the Oakland Athletics, Andy Sheets struggling to hit .200 and Justin Baughman recovering from a broken leg, the Angels want an extended look at the fleet-footed Durrington, who could be the team’s leadoff batter in 2000 if he impresses Angel coaches and front-office executives in Anaheim.

“But he’s not here to audition, he’s here to play,” Angel Manager Terry Collins said. “He can’t worry about what’s going to happen next year. I don’t want him to be thinking after an 0-for-4 [game] that it might affect his chances for next year.”

A stout 5 feet 9 and 175 pounds with thick thighs and a low center of gravity, Durrington didn’t begin playing baseball until he was 14, after a few of his rugby mates turned him on to America’s pastime.

“I gave it a go,” Durrington said in his thick Australian accent, “and I loved it from day one.”

Durrington, who, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, is the first player named Trent to appear in the big leagues, played for the Australian Junior National team in 1992 and ’93 and was promoted to the national team in ’93. He caught the eye of Angel scout Adrian Meagher, who signed him in 1994.

Durrington improved steadily through a year of rookie ball, three years at Class-A and two at double-A, and now has an opportunity to make his mark in the big leagues.

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Gary DiSarcina, a No. 9 batter almost his entire career, has had some of his best games batting second, collecting a career-high five hits in the No. 2 hole against Oakland last Sept. 24.

But after replacing Velarde in the second spot last Saturday night, DiSarcina went hitless in 26 at-bats before singling to left in the fifth inning Friday night.

TODAY

ANGELS’ TIM BELCHER (5-6, 6.53 ERA) vs. RED SOX’S PAT RAPP (3-5, 4.61 ERA)

Edison Field, 1 p.m.

TV--Channel 11 Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090)

* Update--Belcher, sidelined because of a broken right pinky finger--only the second time in his career he has been on the disabled list--will make his first start since June 26. Jack McDowell, today’s originally scheduled starter, has been pushed to Sunday, and Sunday starter Mike Fyhrie was moved to the bullpen. To make room for Durrington, the Angels Friday optioned Sheets to triple-A Edmonton.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.