Sheets Enhancing His Utility Role

Andy Sheets could raise his batting average to .300 and play Gold Glove-caliber defense for the next month, but when Gary DiSarcina returns from a broken left forearm sometime around the all-star break, he will retain his starting shortstop position.

That’s not to say Sheets’ contributions in DiSarcina’s absence won’t leave a lasting impression on Manager Terry Collins. Sheets’ two-run double in the ninth inning gave the Angels a 5-4 victory over the Orioles Wednesday, and his two-run single keyed the Angels’ four-run second in Thursday night’s 6-4 victory.

When DiSarcina returns, Sheets will play more than your typical utility infielder.

“He could easily play two or three games a week,” Collins said. “Gary may need more days off, and by July, Randy [Velarde, second baseman] and Troy [Glaus, third baseman] will need more days off. And one of the things that makes Andy a good utility player is he has experience coming off the bench in late innings.”

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B.J. Surhoff’s baserunning mistake wasn’t the only break the Angels got Thursday. The team’s four-run second inning included a questionable call by second base umpire Tim Welke that benefited the Angels.

Garret Anderson doubled to open the second and Baltimore starter Jason Johnson hit Todd Greene in the left biceps with a pitch. Chris Pritchett grounded to second with the runners moving on a full-count pitch, and Oriole second baseman Delino DeShields made a quick backhand flip to second to start a potential double play.

But Welke ruled that Oriole shortstop Mike Bordick’s back foot came across the bag before he fielded the throw, and the Orioles had to settle for the out at first. After Glaus walked, Matt Walbeck struck out for what could have been the third out of the inning.

Welke’s call may have prolonged the inning, though, and the Angels went on to score four runs.

*

The Angels have inquired about Yankee reserve outfielder Shane Spencer, who captivated New York with his power barrage last September and October, but a trade does not appear imminent.

The Yankees are interested in reliever Mike Holtz, but it will take more than the triple-A left-hander to land Spencer, who had 10 homers and 27 RBIs in 27 big league games last season and hit two homers in three division series games against Texas.

Holtz, who was demoted May 8, has a 1.69 earned-run average at Edmonton.

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Under orders from major league baseball, the Angels have withdrawn their application for the Treasury Department license that would allow them to negotiate to play an exhibition game in Cuba next spring.

The Angels are still interested in playing there, but so are several other teams. Major league officials decided they would control the application process, determining which team--if any--would travel to Cuba.

The Baltimore Orioles visited Cuba in March, the first major league team to play there in 40 years. The Orioles negotiated directly with the Cuban and United States governments, and major league officials do not want individual teams bidding against one another.

“As far as we’re concerned, it’s premature to say whether we’ll do this again next year,” major league spokesman Richard Levin said. “If we do it, it’s a process we’ll be doing.”

The Angels also remain interested in joining the Seattle Mariners in opening next season in Japan. It is unlikely that the Angels would travel to Cuba and Japan next year.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Tampa Bay Devil Rays, three games.

* Site--Tropicana Dome, St. Petersburg, Fla.

* Tonight--4 PDT.

* Records--Angels 19-22, Devil Rays 21-20.

* Record vs. Devil Rays--1-2.

* Radio--KLAC (570) today, KIK-FM (94.3) Saturday and Sunday; XPRS (1090).

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ KEN HILL (1-3, 3.94 ERA)

vs.

DEVIL RAYS’ TONY SAUNDERS (3-3, 6.69 ERA)

* Update--Mo Vaughn, slowed by a sprained left ankle, will remain at designated hitter for at least two more weeks. Collins wants to give the first baseman every opportunity to rest his ankle until interleague play starts with a three-game series in Los Angeles beginning June 4. The Angels were completely thrown off last Saturday by Saunders, the soft-serving left-hander who gave up one run and three hits in eight innings of Tampa Bay’s 3-1 victory in Anaheim.

* Saturday, 3:30 p.m.--Steve Sparks (1-4, 5.91) vs. Wilson Alvarez (2-2, 2.97).

* Sunday, 10:30 a.m.--Chuck Finley (2-4, 5.23) vs. Ryan Rupe (1-1, 4.82).