Series Against Mariners Starts Swing Against West

A little more than a month into the season, the Angels will finally face an American League West opponent when they begin a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners tonight in Safeco Field. That will be followed by three games against Oakland and four against Texas in Edison Field.

“You play all these games against the East and Central, and they’re all important,” said Angel right fielder Tim Salmon, who has lifted his average from .203 to .243 this week. “But when you start playing teams in your own division, you get the butterflies because it means more. This is when teams [in the division] start to separate themselves.”

Though it’s only early May, the Angels are eager to see how they stack up against a Mariner team picked by many to win the division title.

“Both teams want to set a precedent, because it usually comes down to September,” catcher Matt Walbeck said. “Both teams want to have the confidence that they can beat the other team, so it’s a big series.”

*

Angel starter Ken Hill was not extremely sharp Thursday, giving up five runs on eight hits in five innings, but he still improved to 3-3. He didn’t go longer because the Angels have him on a strict pitch count, not wanting his arthritic elbow to flare up.

“I don’t think they’re going to let me go more than 110-115 pitches,” Hill said. “It’s not fun being a five-inning pitcher, but if it’s going to help me come August and September, I’ll take it.”

ON DECK * Opponent--Seattle Mariners, three games.

* Site--Safeco Field, Seattle.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Channel 9 tonight, Saturday and Sunday.

* Radio--KIK-FM (94.3), KDIS (710) and XPRS (1090) tonight; KLAC (570), XPRS (1090) Saturday and Sunday.

* Records--Angels 15-14, Mariners 14-11.

* Record vs. Mariners (1999)--6-6.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

KENT BOTTENFIELD

(2-3, 4.38 ERA)

vs.

MARINERS’

AARON SELE

(2-1, 4.15 ERA)

* Update--Darin Erstad says the beard he grew in April, when he hit a major league-leading .449, had nothing to do with baseball superstition. Yeah, right. After not reaching base safely Thursday, for the first time this season, Erstad shaved most of his beard after the game, leaving only a goatee. The Mariners, who have led the American League West every day since April 7, have been led by shortstop Alex Rodriguez (.333, eight homers, 27 RBIs), first baseman John Olerud (.376, three homers, 21 RBIs, designated hitter Edgar Martinez (.301, five homers, 26 RBIs and right fielder Jay Buhner (.275, six homers, 22 RBIs).

* Saturday, 1 p.m.--Kent Mercker (0-1, 6.61) vs. Gil Meche (0-3, 4.44).

* Sunday, 1:30 p.m.--Scott Schoeneweis (4-0, 3.43) vs. John Halama (3-0, 5.79)