[0] INDIANS FIND HILL COUNTRY : CLEVELAND 4, ANGELS 0.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

If this was an audition, Ken Hill's performance was a success.

The Angels pitcher could still be traded, and the Cleveland Indians might have interest, especially after placing starter Jaret Wright on the disabled list Monday.

The Indians didn't need any help, though, as Bartolo Colon shut out the Angels on seven hits in the Indians' 4-0 win before 22,013 at Edison Field. The loss was the Angels' fourth in a row and dropped them to a season-worst 19 games under .500 (46-65). They are 5-20 since the All-Star break.

The Indians pursued Angels pitcher Chuck Finley before the trading deadline but felt the Angels asked too much. But now with Wright joining Dwight Gooden on the DL, the Indians have Colon, Dave Burba, Charles Nagy and Mark Langston as their starters. No one else has started a game this season.

Hill would have to clear waivers, but he is under contract for $5.6 million next year and has had elbow problems the past two seasons, which should be enough to deter most teams from making a claim.

Hill was traded from the Cardinals to the Indians just before the trading deadline in 1995 and went 4-1 in 11 starts down the stretch, helping the Indians reach the World Series.

``I don't even think about it,'' Hill said when asked about the possibility of being traded. ``That's the last thing on my mind. My son's going to be born in a couple weeks. That's more important than getting traded.''

Monday he allowed three runs (two earned) and eight hits in six innings on 122 pitches.

Holding the Indians to two earned runs in six innings is no small feat, considering Cleveland's offense ranks No. 1 in the American League in 10 categories, including batting average, runs, hits, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.

``I can't get satisfaction out of losing,'' Hill said. ``It doesn't matter how good you pitch if you lose. It's frustrating.''

He has pitched well in five starts since returning from the DL on July 19, even if he has only one win to show for it. His ERA in those five games is 2.70 and he has allowed 31 hits in 30 innings.

``I'm throwing the ball good,'' Hill said. ``I'm trying to give the team a chance. I'm doing the best I can and that's all I can do.

Hill did get considerable help from his defense, which threw out two runners at the plate.

In the second inning, Jesse Levis tried to score from first on Omar Vizquel's double to right-center. Right fielder Tim Salmon threw to shortstop Gary DiSarcina, whose relay throw on one hop to catcher Ben Molina nailed Levis.

In the fifth inning, Manny Ramirez tried to score from first on Jim Thome's double to right-center. That relay went from center fielder Jim Edmonds to second baseman Trent Durrington to Molina for the out.