[0] ANGELS FEAST OFF OAKLAND PITCHING : ANGELS 14, OAKLAND 4.

Byline: Marc J. Spears Daily News Staff Writer

Mention of the Angels' dominance over the Oakland Athletics evoked bad memories for Terry Collins.

During his three-year stint as Houston's manager, the Astros were 1-12 against St. Louis in 1996, 1-11 versus Cincinnati in 1995 and 1-8 against the Dodgers in 1994.

While the Angels' first-year manager can relate with the Oakland's pain, he still has no pity for a division rival.

The Angels humiliated the A's 14-4 in front of just 12,586 at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum on Friday night. The victory is Anaheim's fourth straight and a club-record ninth straight against the A's, dating back to last season.

``It is just one of those things that happens,'' Collins said. ``For some reason we got big hits against them when we need them. (Friday night) was no exception.''

The triumph also kept the second-place Angels 4-1/2 games behind first-place Seattle. Anaheim hasn't lost to Oakland since Sept. 17, is 8-0 against the A's this season and equalled a season-best three-game road winning streak with the win.

With 14 runs, the Angels tied a season-high against the A's (14-10, May 28). Anaheim also produced 17 hits and received fifth-inning homers from Tim Salmon, Jim Edmonds and Tony Phillips to put the game away.

Every Angels starter hit safely while Edmonds, Salmon and Garret Anderson combined to score six runs. Every starter but Gary DiSarcina had an RBI. And every starter but Todd Greene scored a run.

``(The A's) are struggling and we are playing pretty decent,'' Edmonds said. ``We're just getting a good start to the second half.''

Oakland starter Steve Karsay entered the game with a 6.00 ERA against the Angels this season. The Angels almost reached it in the first inning by scoring five runs during their 21-minute at-bat.

During Karsay's nightmare:

Tony Phillips leadoff with a triple, Darin Erstad hit an RBI single, Dave Hollins walked and Jim Edmonds singled to load the bases before the first out.

Garret Anderson then walked in a run, Jim Leyritz had an RBI fielder's choice and Todd Greene hit an RBI single.

After the dust cleared following Gary DiSarcina's rally ending groundout, the Angels were up 5-0 after four hits and two walks.

The A's attempted a comeback by loading the bases in the bottom of the first with two outs, but Jason Giambi struck out to end the threat.

After the Angels scored two more runs in the third, Karsay was showered with boos and sent to the showers. In just 2-1/3 innings, the right-hander struck out three allowed seven runs on six hits and three walks.

The A's got on the scoreboard in the third when Scott Brosius hit a solo homer to left to slightly cut the score to 7-1.

But the Angels' tripled that output in the fifth by tagging three homers off A's reliever Carlos Reyes. Edmonds and Tim Salmon entered the inning with back-to-back homers and Tony Phillips with a two-run homer with two outs to end Reyes' outing. Edmonds homer was his second in consecutive days.

Down 12-1 entering the bottom of the fifth, A's catcher George Williams hit a homer to left field off Dickson to temporarily ease Oakland's pain.

In the sixth, the Angels scored their 13th run on an Anderson RBI single scored sub Orlando Palmeiro from second with one out.

ANGELS TODAY

Game time: 1:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: No TV; KTZN-AM (710).

Matchup: Angels LHP Chuck Finley (5-6, 4.89) will counter Oakland RHP Ariel Prieto (6-5, 4.50) in the third of a four-game series at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum. Finley has won his last two starts, but is just 6-17 lifetime against Oakland.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

PHOTO Oakland's Jason Giambi grimaces after striking out with the bases loaded.

Associated Press

BOX: ANGELS TODAY (see text)