These Guys Need Help

Angel hitters continue to flail, with the exception of Mo Vaughn and Garret Anderson.

The team was hitting .185 through the first three games of the home stand. The Angels had 17 hits in those games. Vaughn and Anderson had 11 of them.

Sticking out are Darin Erstad and Troy Glaus, both mired in monthlong slumps. Erstad was 10 for his last 60 heading into Friday’s game. Glaus was even worse, with six hits in his last 74 at-bats.

Vaughn can relate. He has been there and done that.

Like Glaus, Vaughn struggled early in his career. He was hitting .185 with two home runs and 11 runs batted in through the first 23 games of 1993, his second season with the Boston Red Sox. He was demoted to Pawtucket for a month.

“My style wasn’t working,” Vaughn said. “I had to learn to do things differently. If day-by-day you’re trying different things, then that’s all you’re going to be, day-by-day. You have to put yourself in someone else’s hands and trust them.”

For Vaughn, that was Red Sox hitting coach Mike Easler. In Anaheim, he goes to Rod Carew.

“He has 3,000-plus hits,” Vaughn said. “I go to him and pick his brain and make adjustments.

“You have to realize that batting practice isn’t for hitting home runs. You work on things.”

Glaus got off to a fast start, but his average has dropped from .345 to .226 since May 1. Since being called up last July, he is hitting .222.

Erstad is not much better during that span. He is hitting .247 with only five home runs since appearing last July’s All-Star game.

“You want to win. You want to help your team win,” Erstad said. “When you’re not doing that, you feel like you’re not holding up your end of the bargain.”

*

While Troy Percival dominates hitters to close games, reliever Mark Petkovsek has merely baffled them to get to Percival.

“The batters have to be thinking, ‘How am I not hitting that stuff?’ ” Petkovsek said. “I think I’m using my newness to my advantage. Most of these guys haven’t seen me before. It’s an asset, like having something up my sleeve.”

Petkovsek spent the last four season with the St. Louis Cardinals. He did appear in four American League games, but that was in 1991 with Texas.

He is 4-1 with 1.88 earned-run average in 17 games this season.

“I’m sure the newness is going to wear off,” Petkovsek said. “I’m content to let them put the ball in play and, hopefully, it’s hit at someone.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ STEVE SPARKS (1-4, 6.04 ERA)

vs.

ROYALS’ CHRIS FUSSELL (0-2, 6.35 ERA)

Edison Field, 7 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West.

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

* Update--Sparks’ knuckleball has been ineffective in his last three starts, giving up 15 runs in 12 innings. “I have to get back to the things I was doing when I was successful,” Sparks said. “I’ve been trying to throw a slower knuckleball. I’m not comfortable with that. I need to throw a firm one and get into the flow before I start changing speeds.” Sparks gave up only two unearned runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Royals in Kansas City on April 24. He received a no-decision, but the Angels won, 4-3. Fussell, acquired from the Baltimore Orioles for Jeff Conine, is making his fifth major league start and is looking for his first victory.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.