[0] RANGERS RIP RAPP FOR A SECOND TIME NEW ANGELS PITCHER DOESN'T GO FAR TEXAS 7, ANGELS 5.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - The Angels signed free-agent pitcher Pat Rapp to a one-year contract worth $2 million in the offseason, essentially to give some of the younger pitchers in the organization time to develop.

Unfortunately for the Angels, a couple weeks is simply not enough time.

Rapp got ripped for the second time in his two starts, putting the Angels in an early hole they could not climb out of in a 7-5 loss to the Texas Rangers before 42,784 at Edison Field.

Rapp gave up seven runs in four-plus innings. He also walked four, hit a batter and allowed four hits. He gave up six runs in five innings in his first start (also a loss) to the Rangers last week.

Rapp has been the starting rotation's weak link early on. The four other starters in the rotation have pitched six innings or more every time out, but Rapp has failed to go six in both starts.

The Angels are concerned enough that manager Mike Scioscia and pitching coach Bud Black held a closed-door meeting with Rapp after the game.

``What we're concerned about with Pat is his command,'' Scioscia said. ``Not only the four walks hurt him, but he was really behind in a lot of counts. Pat's a better pitcher than that and we know that.

``Right now he's struggling with a couple things. He hasn't been effective changing speeds, and that's a big part of his game. And it's his mechanics - I think he's trying to force the ball in some areas.''

Rapp's problems might have to do with the Rangers as much as anything. He had more trouble with the Rangers than any other team in the league - he has an ERA of 11.57 against them in his career.

``I don't think I've ever started a season with two starts like this,'' Rapp (0-2, 13.00 ERA) said. ``It's tough. It's tough to pinpoint what's exactly wrong. I've walked more guys in my first two starts (eight) than I walked all spring.

``I'm just not locating the ball. I give up a couple walks then give up a big hit. I've just got to work through this.''

It's not like the Angels didn't have their chances to overcome Rapp's troubles. They had 15 hits in the game, including three each by Tim Salmon and Benji Gil. But they went just 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position, missing numerous opportunities to score.

Their final attempt to rally came in the ninth against Rangers closer Tim Crabtree. But after an RBI double by Salmon with nobody out, the Angels went down 1-2-3 to end it.

Former Angel reliever Mark Petkovsek stuck it to his ex-teammates by throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out five. After Petkovsek struck out the side in the eighth, Scioscia was ejected from the game by home-plate umpire Kerwin Danley.

``Go ask Kerwin,'' Scioscia said when asked why he was ejected. ``I said I thought a pitch was outside and he ejected me. I was really kind of shocked. Go ask Kerwin what his take on it was.''

Danley declined comment.

After retiring the Rangers in order in the first inning, Rapp lost the strike zone in the second. He walked two batters and hit another with a pitch, setting up Ruben Mateo's two-out, three-run double. Rusty Greer added an RBI single in the inning to give the Rangers a 4-0 lead.

But the Angels picked away at the lead. With two out in the second, Shawn Wooten got his first career triple, then scored on a single by Benji Gil.

ANGELS vs. TEXAS

Time: 7:05 p.m., at Edison Field

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; 570-AM, 1090-AM (Spanish)

Matchup: RH Ramon Ortiz (1-0, 2.57 ERA) will start for Anaheim against Texas RH Ryan Glynn (0-1, 8.44). The two pitchers hooked up last Thursday in Texas in a game won by the Angels 10-3. Angels second baseman David Eckstein has hit safely in all seven games this season.

- Joe Haakenson

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

ANGELS vs. TEXAS (see text)