Anderson Forced to Rest

Garret Anderson’s sagging average wasn’t a concern in late May because the Angel center fielder was batting .327 with runners in scoring position and was on a 40-homer, 125-RBI pace, production that offset his .241 average.

But in 11 games since June 3, Anderson has driven in only two runs, both on solo homers, and his average with runners in scoring position fell to .265. With a one-for-15 slump dropping his average from .253 Sunday to .245 Thursday, Manager Mike Scioscia decided drastic action was in order.

Anderson did not start against the Orioles Friday night, and Scioscia said he would sit out tonight’s game as well, a foreign concept for a player who averaged 155 games a year for the past three seasons and prides himself on hitting his way through slumps.

“Scioscia is different--that’s how he feels,” said Anderson, a career .300 hitter. “And he feels strongly about [giving struggling players time off]. It’s something you have to deal with.”

Scioscia gave struggling second baseman Adam Kennedy two days off in late May and then dropped him from the second to eighth spot. Kennedy since has rebounded, lifting his average from .257 on May 29 to .288 Friday night.

“Sometimes when you bang your head against the wall and try to plug your way through, you get your way out of it,” Scioscia said. “But it’s reached a point now where Garret needs to take a step back, clear his head a bit, and work with Mickey [Hatcher, Angel batting instructor] on a few things.

“He’s been playing almost every day. I just think you have to adjust to the needs of the club. We’ve tried to let him keep pounding it. Now we’re going to try this.”

Anderson is not one to tinker with his swing much, nor does he spend hours watching videotape. If there are flaws in his mechanics, he can usually sense them and adjust.

“What puts me in a rut is when I swing at the pitcher’s pitch and not mine,” Anderson said. “It’s hard to pinpoint anything, because anything I say might seem like an excuse.”

*

Jason Dickson was hit hard in his minor league rehabilitation start Friday night, giving up eight earned runs on eight hits, walking three and striking out two in 3 2/3 innings for triple-A Edmonton against Iowa. Dickson, who threw 78 pitches, will start against Tacoma Thursday night. . . . Shortstop Kevin Stocker returned Friday after missing five games because of a strained left hip and made a great play in the sixth, fielding Charles Johnson’s grounder deep in the hole and making a long throw to first in time. . . . Mark Petkovsek pitched for the first time in a month Friday night, giving up one hit and striking out one in two scoreless innings. . . . The Angels have agreed to terms with 22 of the 51 players selected in the recent draft, including fifth-round pick Bobby Jenks, a high school pitcher from Washington. . . . Pitcher Scott Sanders, whose triple-A contract enabled him to become a free agent if the Angels didn’t recall him in 21 days, signed a minor league deal Friday with Calgary, the Florida Marlins’ triple-A team. Sanders went 0-2 with a 5.56 ERA in six games for Edmonton.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

TIM BELCHER

(6-8, 6.73 ERA in 1999)

vs.

ORIOLES’

JASON JOHNSON

(0- 4, 5.36 ERA)

Camden Yards, Baltimore, 4 p.m.

TV--Channel 9. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Belcher, the 38-year-old right-hander, will make his long-awaited 2000 debut after sitting out the first 2 1/2 months of the season because of elbow problems. He underwent surgery last Dec. 2, and his comeback was delayed by at least a month because of inflammation in the elbow in late April. The Orioles, who lost 15 of 17 games at one point this season, have won six straight. Oriole relievers entered Friday’s game with a combined 12-13 record, nine saves, 15 blown saves and a 6.03 ERA.