[0] MORE ROAD KILL; DODGERS TURN INTO SKID DURING FREEWAY SERIES : ANGELS 3, DODGERS 2.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

For the Dodgers, their midseason Freeway Series with the Angels was one huge SigAlert.

After getting swept in Anaheim and winning in extra innings on a night three coaches were shipped out, the Dodgers lost 3-2 Thursday in front of 38,254 at Dodger Stadium.

Even when they loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, the Dodgers were left to examined the wreckage after Wilton Guerrero struck out against Troy Percival for the team's fifth loss in six games.

``Just one hit and this place would really have been rocking,'' new manager Glenn Hoffman said. ``We didn't win, but if we get pitching like that again, we'll win some games.''

Hoffman better hope so. The Dodgers, 5-5 so far in interleague play, are the same 13-1/2 games behind San Diego they were last Sunday when Bill Russell and Fred Claire were fired.

New pitching coach Charlie Hough was introduced to left-hander Dennis Reyes (0-4), who allowed just one hit through five innings before falling apart in a three-run sixth.

Then Hough, the old knuckleballer, was forced to watch one of his own, Angels right-hander Steve Sparks (3-0), butterfly the Dodgers for one run and four hits in seven innings.

Sparks, signed by the Angels on Feb. 23, lost all eight minor league decisions this year before he was called up in mid-June, almost one year after undergoing ``Tommy John'' reconstructive elbow surgery. But he's won all three starts in the big leagues.

``In the first couple of innings, I didn't think he threw a very good one,'' Hough said of Sparks' knuckler. ``But he got in a good groove later on and he started getting good movement on it.''

Phil Nevin had a game-winning ground-rule double in the sixth and Percival earned his 24th save by pitching the ninth as the American League West-leading Angels won for the 20th time in 24 games in June. But it wasn't your typical inning for Percival, who allowed a leadoff double to Raul Mondesi.

Matt Luke, who tied Monday's game with a ninth-inning homer off Percival, popped out to short. New Dodgers third baseman Adrian Beltre appeared to pop out to end the game, but right fielder Garret Anderson collided with second baseman Paco Martin for an error, allowing Mondesi to score.

Percival then walked pinch hitter Jim Eisenreich and second baseman Eric Young to load the bases. Guerrero fell behind 0-2 before fouling off three pitches, but struck out on a high fastball.

The Dodgers had just five hits and went 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position for new hitting instructor Mickey Hatcher, who replaced Reggie Smith. Hatcher reclaimed his No. 9, the same number worn by Smith, who turned down a chance to manage at Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday.

The Dodgers scored their run in the first inning after Young opened with a single and stole second. It was his 31st of the season, one short of major-league leader Rickey Henderson, who stole two bases Thursday against the San Francisco Giants.

Reyes limited the Angels to just one hit through the first five innings, a Gary DiSarcina single with one out in the third.

But suddenly in the sixth, Reyes became unraveled. After striking out DiSarcina to open the inning, he walked Sparks and Darin Erstad followed with a double down the right-field line.

Reyes struck out Dave Hollins to set a career high with seven, but then walked Dave Edmonds to load the bases. Hough came to the mound, but left Reyes in the game.

``I felt good all night,'' Reyes said. ``Walking the pitcher, though, changed everything. You just can't do that.''

Fielder, who had three hits including a homer Wednesday night, was next and he walked to tie the score 1-1.

That was enough for Hoffman, who had Reyes at Triple-A Albuquerque. There, Reyes made six starts (1-4, 1.44) after failing to make the big club out of spring training.

Russell and reassigned pitching coach Goose Gregson, complained that Reyes lacked focus on the mound.

``He had the concentration out there that I saw down there,'' Hoffman said. ``But in the sixth his legs just started to give out.''

THE AFTERMATH

The Dodgers coaches promoted after the firing Wednesday of assistant coaches Glenn Gregson, Reggie Smith and Mark Cresse:

CHARLIE HOUGH

Pitching coach: The former knuckleballer played 25 big-league seasons, including Dodgers stint (1970-80).

MICKEY HATCHER

Hitting instructor/1B coach: World Series hero in 1988 as a member of the Dodgers.

JOHN SHELBY

Bullpen coach: Was starting CF for World Series championship team in 1988.

RON ROENICKE

Triple-A manager: Promoted from Double-A San Antonio.

CAPTION(S):

6 Photos, Box

PHOTO (1--Color) Dodgers shortstop Juan Castro avoids a slide by Angels' Phil Nevin to start a second-inning double play.

(2) Angels shortstop Gary DiSarcina flags down a shot up the middle by Dodgers' Gary Sheffield in the eighth.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

(3--Color) Charlie Hough

(4--Color) John Shelby

(5--Color) Mickey Hatcher

(6--Color) Ron Roenicke

BOX: THE AFTERMATH (see text)