[0] ABBOTT FALTERS IN ANGELS LOSS : NEW YORK 16, ANGELS 5.

Byline: Tim Trepany Daily News Staff Writer

Forget the minor adjustments. Maybe it's time to give Jim Abbott a complete overhaul because at this rate, he'll never win another game.

Abbott struggled again, suffering the loss in a 16-5 defeat to the New York Yankees on Monday night at Anaheim Stadium.

In four-plus innings the left-hander gave up seven runs, six earned, on eight hits. He walked four batters and struck out three in losing his major league-leading eighth game.

The dismal outing came despite making refinements to his approach. Angels manager Marcel Lachemann refused to divulge the changes, which was a good idea considering how miserably they failed.

The poor showing is becoming routine for the left-hander, once one of the Angels' steadiest players. His record fell to 1-8, he hasn't won at Anaheim Stadium in 11 starts since rejoining the team from the Chicago White Sox last July, he's surrendered 78 hits in just 66 innings this season and has walked more batters (31) than he has struck out (27).

``One fact seems to pop up more than anything is the big inning,'' Lachemann said. ``In his case those have been the keys in his ballgames. He pitched four good games in a row (before Monday) from which I think he got only one win out of them.''

Notes: Angels pitcher Mark Langston, expected to be activated from the disabled list and start Friday's game against the Baltimore Orioles, will throw on the side today before a final determination is made. . . . Pitcher Mark Eichhorn, also on the disabled list, threw off the bullpen mound for 15 minutes and felt fine. He's scheduled to throw again Wednesday. . . . Reliever Bryan Harvey, who's been sidelined all season, played catch and felt some discomfort in his injured right elbow. . . . Center fielder Jim Edmonds sat out his second straight game with a strained abdominal muscle.