Angels Are Strung Along in Cleveland

CLEVELAND — That sinking feeling is sinking in. The Angels are playing out the string, and poorly at that, an undignified end to the first World Series championship defense in club history.

“Last year, everything we did worked in our favor,” outfielder Tim Salmon said. “Right now, we can’t do anything right.”

The only race left for this year’s Angels is the race to avoid last place. After the Angels lost a doubleheader to the wretched Cleveland Indians on Saturday by identical 3-2 scores, they’re only four games ahead of the last-place Texas Rangers in the American League West.

With the roster changing almost daily and the Angels losing almost daily, Salmon said players are upset about the performance of the team and nervous about who might be next to go.

“Everybody in here is pressing,” he said. “You try to put a good face on things. You try to stay loose. But, at some point, you say, “Geez, what’s going on?’

“You look at all the fun we had last year. It’s not a lot of fun right now.”

The Angels have lost 19 of 24 games, a span during which they have traded pitcher Scott Schoeneweis, cut pitchers Kevin Appier and Mickey Callaway and infielder Benji Gil and promoted five players from triple-A Salt Lake.

The Angel starters Saturday wore No. 62 and No. 63 -- Scot Shields and Kevin Gregg, respectively. They did fine.

But the vanishing offense has scored three runs or fewer in 13 of the last 16 games. Designated hitter Brad Fullmer is out for the season, center fielder Darin Erstad and third baseman Troy Glaus might be, and catcher Bengie Molina has not played in this series because of injury.

“We’ve got to make do with what we’ve got, and we’re better than this,” Salmon said. “This is ridiculous.”

The injuries are forcing the Angels to run more of a tryout camp than they would like. First baseman Robb Quinlan is hitting .366, and reliever Greg Jones has started his major league career with eight scoreless innings.

But infielder Alfredo Amezaga, touted as the 2004 shortstop, has done nothing to convince the Angels they can discard David Eckstein or Adam Kennedy. Amezaga is hitting .040 -- one hit in 25 at-bats -- and he appeared lost Saturday.

In the first game, his throwing error in the 13th inning set up the Indians’ winning run, driven home on a single by Ryan Ludwick. In the second game, he popped a squeeze bunt directly to pitcher Jason Boyd, who jogged to third base to double up Kennedy.

And, in a botched play that earned him a dugout tongue-lashing from Manager Mike Scioscia, he failed to cover second base on a pitchout. Scioscia anticipated the stolen base try, but catcher Jose Molina’s perfect throw sailed directly over the uncovered base and into center field. Amezaga took the blame, saying he did not communicate properly with Kennedy.

“I’m having a rough time,” Amezaga said. “They’re giving me a chance. I’ve played three games in a row, so that tells me they like me. But if I’m not doing the little things I’m supposed to do, something is going to happen.”

Shields and Gregg, each trying to persuade the Angels he can compete for the 2004 rotation, pitched well. Shields lost the second game, giving up three runs in seven innings, including a game-winning homer to rookie Angel Santos in the seventh.

Gregg started the first game and got no decision. With 14 friends and family members on hand for his major league debut, he pitched five shutout innings before giving up a run in the sixth. In six innings, he gave up four hits and two walks while striking out six. He returned to Salt Lake after the game, but he’s come a long way since starting the season in the bullpen at double-A Arkansas.

“The outing he pitched puts him on our depth chart as a starter,” Scioscia said.