ANGELS, DICKSON FALL SHORT TO TWINS : MINNESOTA 4 ANGELS 3.

Byline: Marc J. Spears Daily News Staff Writer

Although it looked pretty, Jason Dickson's record was also very deceptive. The Angels rookie entered Friday's game with a 6-1 record, but the past four outings included three no-decisions and a win that he admitted was lucky.

On Friday night, Dickson's luck ran out in the Angels' 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins in front of 28,922 at Anaheim Stadium.

The loss also kept Anaheim one game behind Texas and prevented the club from moving into first place for the first time since April 4.

Dickson (6-2) finished with respectable numbers. The right-hander tied a career high with seven strikeouts and allowed four runs (three earned), six hits and three walks on 119 pitches.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, however, Dickson got the first two Twins out before allowing a double and a balk that put Pat Meares on third base. Minnesota took advantage by scoring twice to go ahead 3-2.

Dickson had more problems in the top of the seventh when he couldn't finish a routine 1-3 play as the ball fell from his glove as he attempted to tag Darrin Jackson. Jackson eventually scored the game-winning run when Matt Lawton's two-out single brought the Los Angeles native in from third base.

The Angels entered Friday with 26 hits in their past two games and stayed consistent with 12 hits against the Twins. But they also stranded seven runners and failed to reach base during the last two innings.

The Twins took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when a two-out Marty Cordova liner up the middle scored Paul Molitor from second base.

Angels designated hitter Eddie Murray tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the second with a solo 410-foot homer off Minnesota starter Bob Tewksbury. The 41-year-old's third homer of the season accounted for just his third hit in his past 24 at-bats.

Anaheim took its first lead, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth when Garret Anderson's no-out single scored Jim Leyritz from second.

The Angels' lead was short-lived, however, as the Twins scored on Dickson in the top of fifth. After a two-out single, Meares moved to second on a balk. Chuck Knoblauch followed with a single to right that scored Meares and tied the game. Then Minnesota went ahead 3-2 when Lawton's double down the right-field line scored Knoblauch.

In the bottom of the fifth, the game was tied again when a one-out double by the Angels' Darin Erstad scored Gary DiSarcina from second.

With the victory, Tewksbury's record improved to 2-5 while reliever Rick Aguilera earned his 11th save.

Notes: Angels RHP Mark Gubicza, who is on the 15-day disabled list with right-shoulder discomfort, will not be allowed to throw a baseball until July 1. Gubicza experienced shoulder problems after throwing a simulated game at the Angels' Mesa, Ariz., complex May 23. The Northridge resident has already missed 41 games and will be limited to weight-lifting and physical therapy. . . . On Friday, X-rays on Angels CF Jim Edmonds were negative after he bruised his left knee while sliding into third base in the fifth inning against Oakland on Thursday. Although he didn't start, he pinch hit for Orlando Palmeiro in the ninth inning Friday and popped out. . . . Angels' second baseman Luis Alicea missed Friday's game with a tight right hamstring suffered while running out a popout in the fourth inning at Oakland on Thursday. He is listed as day-to-day and will be replaced by Craig Grebeck today. . . . According to Angels pitching coach Marcel Lachemann, LHP Mark Langston's return won't be determined until the swelling in his left elbow goes down. Langston had arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow May 27. . . . During Dairy Night at Anaheim Stadium, Angels reliever Pep Harris defeated Minnesota catcher Terry Steinbach in a cow-milking contest.

ANGELS TODAY

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: FSW; KTZN-AM (710).

Matchups: Angels LHP Chuck Finley (2-4, 4.91) will counter Minnesota LHP Scott Aldred (2-7, 6.68) in the second of a three-game series at Anaheim Stadium. During his last three starts, Finley has allowed eight earned runs in 23 innings.

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