ANGELS CREEP FURTHER AHEAD; BOSTON SWEEP OF TEXAS INCREASES ANGELS' LEAD : CHICAGO 4, ANGELS 3.

Byline: Joe Haakenson San Gabriel Valley Tribune

The Angels got good news and bad news Tuesday. First, the bad news:

Albert Belle homered and had a two-run double to help the Chicago White Sox to a 4-3 win over the Angels before 26,162 at Edison Field.

The good news: The Angels actually increased their lead in the A.L. West from one to 1-1/2 games because the Texas Rangers were swept in a doubleheader at Boston.

Though the Angels would have increased their division lead to 2-1/2 games with a win, Angels manager Terry Collins refused to say it was more of a missed opportunity than any other day.

``We knew Texas lost a doubleheader,'' he said. ``But we can't say, `We should really go hard today.' It should be that way every day. We've got 30-some games left. Every day's important as the next.''

Angels starter Chuck Finley pitched well for six innings but appeared to tire in the seventh as the White Sox scored three times to break a 1-1 tie and go up 4-1. Finley left in the seventh with two out and the bases loaded, trailing 2-1. Mike Fetters entered the game and gave up the two-run double to Belle, but the runs were charged to Finley (9-6).

``I don't know much about Albert Belle,'' Angels manager Terry Collins said. ``But in the 11 or 12 games we've played him, I didn't see him give up one at-bat, regardless of what the score is. That's why he's a star. He plays every day, he runs balls out. When he steps into the batter's box, he wants a hit. If he has five hits, he wants six.''

After the White Sox had taken their 4-1 lead, the Angels rallied to make it close. Matt Walbeck hit a solo homer in the seventh to cut the White Sox lead to 4-2. In the eighth, Walbeck had another opportunity to come up big. With the bases loaded and two out, Walbeck walked on four pitches by reliever Bill Simas to force in a run and make it 4-3.

With a chance to be a hero, Gary DiSarcina followed with a line drive that second baseman Ray Durham snared with a leaping catch to end the inning and save the game.

``Gary put a good swing on the ball and hit a line drive,'' Collins said. ``I'll take my chances with that.''

The Angels couldn't put anything together against White Sox starter John Snyder (4-1). Snyder, acquired by the White Sox from the Angels in the deal for Jim Abbott in 1995, survived first-inning trouble and went six innings, allowing just one run and five hits.

Two of those hits came from Tim Salmon, who is playing with a foot ligament that is 70 percent torn. He continued a torrid August with two doubles and walk Tuesday in four plate appearances. Salmon has been the Angels' hottest hitter this month, if not the hottest hitter in the league. In August, Salmon is hitting .417 (25 for 60) with four homers and 14 RBI.

His leadoff double in the fourth inning led to a 1-0 lead, Salmon later scoring from third on a sacrifice fly by Troy Glaus. Salmon also doubled with two out in the sixth, and the Angels later loaded the bases for Chris Pritchett.

Pritchett, who doubled in three runs one night earlier, instead grounded out to first to end the threat. After the game, Pritchett was sent back to Triple-A Vancouver to make room for Darin Erstad, who will be activated from the disabled list today.

``We had plenty of opportunities,'' Collins said. ``Three bases-loaded opportunities and we didn't get anything.''

The Angels went into Tuesday's game with an average attendance of 30,377, up from 23,738 per game at this point last season. However, pennant fever hasn't exactly taken hold in Anaheim. When a reporter mentioned it didn't seem to feel like a pennant race at Edison Field, Collins responded:

``It does to me, I haven't slept in a week. The coaches know we're in a pennant race, the players know we're in a pennant race. That's where it has to start.''

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Photo, Box

PHOTO (Color) Randy Velarde, top, jumps over a sliding Magglio Ordonez in Anaheim's 4-3 loss.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

BOX: WEST DIVISION STANDINGS

Boston's doubleheader sweep of Texas on Tuesday allowed the Angels to open up a 1 1/2 game lead despite a loss to Chicago.