Angels Make It Quick, Easy for White Sox

The Angels would still be within striking distance, 8 1/2 games behind the first-place Kansas City Royals, if they resided in the middling American League Central.

They don’t, of course, and are already out of contention in the AL West and wild-card races. But the Angels will have a say in how the AL Central is won, playing their next 24 games against opponents from the division, including 17 against the Royals, Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins, the three teams tightly bunched atop the standings.

Chicago Manager Jerry Manuel might leave a personalized thank-you note behind in the Edison Field dugout after the White Sox leave Anaheim if the Angels continue to sputter like they did Tuesday during a 10-4 loss in front of 36,458.

Starting pitcher Ramon Ortiz lasted only 3 1/3 innings -- the third time in his last four outings that he has failed to make it through the fourth -- and the Angels committed three errors over the first four innings.

The sloppy display was compounded by the results of an MRI exam on third baseman Troy Glaus’ right shoulder that revealed a partial tear of the rotator cuff and fraying of the labrum, leading Manager Mike Scioscia to acknowledge that Glaus might be out longer than expected.

Glaus already had delayed his rehabilitation assignment this week after reporting recurring soreness in the shoulder, which has forced him to miss 22 games. There are less than three weeks remaining in the minor league season, meaning that Glaus might have to work his way back at a more protracted pace with the Angels, if he can return at all.

The Angels, using a lineup rife with prospects instead of regulars, continued to struggle, especially in the field. First baseman Robb Quinlan couldn’t field a bunt that was popped up, catcher Bengie Molina’s throw to second base on a stolen-base attempt found its way into center field and shortstop Alfredo Amezaga booted a routine grounder.

The errors contributed to three White Sox runs, and the Angels stranded runners in almost every conceivable way. Quinlan grounded into a 3-6-1 double play in the second to strand one runner, Molina flied out in the third to leave the bases loaded and Garret Anderson grounded out in the fourth to leave runners on second and third.

The Angels scored only one run during an inning in which White Sox starter Neal Cotts, making his major-league debut, walked four batters, including Tim Salmon with the bases loaded.

Cotts issued six walks but gave up only two hits and two runs over 2 1/3 innings, leaving with the White Sox ahead, 3-2, in the third.

Chicago added three runs in the fourth after Roberto Alomar reached with one out on Amezaga’s error, his second in 10 games with the Angels. Carlos Lee doubled, driving in Alomar, and Frank Thomas walked before Magglio Ordonez scored Lee with a single off Amezaga’s glove. Gary Glover relieved Ortiz only to yield a single to Carl Everett and a sacrifice fly by Paul Konerko.

The pitching line on Ortiz (13-10), who has lost four of his last six decisions: eight hits, six runs -- five earned -- two walks and two strikeouts.

“He never really got into the flow,” Scioscia said. “He’s not putting the ball where he needs to on a consistent basis.”

Said Ortiz: “I’m not pitching too good. I don’t know what’s happening.”

The Angels closed to within 6-3 in the fourth on Amezaga’s run-scoring grounder with the bases loaded before Chicago added four runs in the seventh.