Angels Fall Into Big Hole

At what point does a little rut become a little slump, and a little slump become a trend, and a trend become a major concern?

Angel Manager Mike Scioscia doesn’t like to get caught up in semantics, especially as they pertain to his struggling players--a guy could be hitless in 43 at-bats, and Scioscia would call it a “little lull.”

But Scioscia’s tolerance is being tested by an Angel rotation that was knocked around for the sixth consecutive game Thursday night, as the Chicago White Sox pounded right-hander Brian Cooper in a 6-5 victory before 24,394 at Edison Field.

Cooper gave up six runs--five earned--on 10 hits, including two home runs, in 4 2/3 innings, putting the Angels in a 6-0 hole that their offense, though game at times, could not crawl out of.

In the last six games, an Angel rotation that pitched so well during a 10-3 stretch from July 6-21 has given up 32 earned runs on 55 hits, 14 of them homers, in 28 1/3 innings for a 10.16 ERA.

“There will be certain starts where you don’t pitch well, but for it to happen five or six times in a row, you don’t expect that, nor do you expect it to continue,” Scioscia said.

“You don’t want everybody to be hot or cold at the same time. You’re not going to be lights out every start, but you want that consistency that gives you a chance to win every game.”

Cooper, who was bombed for seven runs on 10 hits in Saturday’s 10-3 loss at Oakland, didn’t provide that for the second start in a row.

He gave up three runs in the second on Herbert Perry’s two-run homer and Jose Valentin’s RBI single, and a run in the fourth on Brook Fordyce’s triple and catcher Bengie Molina’s passed ball. Chris Singleton knocked out Cooper with a two-run homer in the fifth, giving Chicago a 6-0 lead.

The Angels rallied in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with none out against White Sox starter Jon Garland, a 1997 graduate of Granada Hills Kennedy High and the youngest pitcher (20) in baseball.

Valentin, the Chicago shortstop, bobbled Orlando Palmeiro’s grounder for his 26th error of the season, as Troy Glaus scored, Darin Erstad’s two-run single pulled the Angels to within 6-3, and Mo Vaughn’s RBI fielder’s choice made it 6-4.

The Angels closed to 6-5 in the ninth on Adam Kennedy’s triple and Erstad’s sacrifice fly, but White Sox closer Keith Foulke retired Kevin Stocker on a fly ball for his 19th save.

That improved Chicago’s road record to 33-20, the best in baseball, and brought a hint of relief to the White Sox clubhouse.

Though they entered Thursday with baseball’s best record and a 10-game lead over Cleveland in the American League Central, the White Sox had lost five of six, fueling some concern that the weight of the expectations they’ve created with their superb play might be weighing on them.

The average age of Chicago’s roster, after all, is 26.6 years old, and designated hitter Frank Thomas is the only regular--including position players and pitchers--with playoff appearance. Most of these kids have never been in a pennant race.

“We still have a ways to go, and we’ve never been here before, so there are some concerns along those lines,” Chicago Manager Jerry Manuel said. “We’ve got to get through this period.

“It’s difficult with youth, because a lot of times, the unexpected can explode, and you have no idea where it’s coming from. Youth brings enthusiasm and energy, but it can also bring you the unexpected.”

No one brought it up in Manuel’s pregame press gathering, but it was hard not to read the 1995 Angels between the lines. That was the young and hungry team with virtually no pennant-race experience that blew an 11-game lead in the final two months of the season.

With Monday’s trade deadline approaching, the White Sox might add a playoff-seasoned veteran, perhaps a shortstop such as Baltimore’s Mike Bordick to platoon with Valentin or a strong defensive outfielder. Then again, Chicago might just stick with what it has.

“I’ve stayed away from those questions,” Manuel said, “because as much as this team has given me, it would be unfair to sell this team short.”