ANGELS DISPLAY A DIFFERENT KIND OF TEAMWORK; ALL SHARE BLAME FOR LOSS TO BOSTON : BOSTON 14, ANGELS 3.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

Blame for the Angels' 14-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon at Edison Field could not be directed at any one player or aspect of the game.

Collectively, the Angels pitched poorly, hit poorly and played defense poorly. At least it was a team effort.

Red Sox starter Pat Rapp (4-5) gave up one run and six hits in seven innings to get the victory. He was supported by 19 hits, including three each by Jose Offerman, Nomar Garciaparra, Brian Daubach and Reggie Jefferson and two apiece from Jason Varitek and Donnie Sadler.

The Angels played sloppy defense, got eight hits and simply looked like a last-place team. Their only runs came on an RBI single by Orlando Palmeiro and a two-run homer by Tim Salmon.

At 46-63, they fell 17 games under .500 for the second time this season.

``We're getting personnel back we've been missing all year, but we're not playing better,'' said Angels pitcher Tim Belcher, who made his first start in six weeks but was knocked around for seven runs (five earned) and seven hits in 2-1/3 innings.

``It's tough when you get into a funk like we've been in since the All-Star break,'' he said. ``I don't think it would make a difference if we brought in Hank Aaron and Lefty Grove. When teams get in a funk, they get in a funk.

``We can't continue to play like this and go into the winter feeling good about ourselves. You've got to find something to play for. For us, it's our sanity.''

Belcher said he had no problems with his right pinky finger, which he broke June 26. His biggest problem was location.

``I felt pretty normal,'' he said. ``It's like riding a bike. . . . It was a hell of a crash. No training wheels.''

It wasn't all Belcher's fault, though.

Normally reliable shortstop Gary DiSarcina made errors in each of the first two innings, the second coming on a ground ball by Jefferson leading off the second inning, which led to two unearned runs.

``I stunk,'' said DiSarcina, who added he hadn't had a worse day in the field since opening day his rookie year. ``When you stink, you stink. I feel great, I wish I had an excuse.

``You always want to play well, especially going into the offseason. We had two rookies in the infield today (second baseman Trent Durrington and catcher Ben Molina) and another young guy at third (Troy Glaus). You want to show those guys the way to play the game, and when you don't do it, it's disappointing.''

Probably the defining moment of the game - and the Angels' season for that matter - came in the third. With the bases loaded and two out, Offerman hit a chopper to short. DiSarcina chose not to charge the ball, and his throw to first was too late to get Offerman.

Not only did the runner from third score on the play, but so did Varitek, a slow-footed catcher who scored from second. Molina received the throw from first baseman Darin Erstad in time, but Molina apparently never saw Varitek coming and didn't attempt to make a tag until it was too late.

Offerman was credited with two RBI on an infield single.

``He got caught up the line a little bit,'' Angels manager Terry Collins said of Molina. ``But he'll learn. He's just a young kid.''

After the game, many of the Angels players showered and put their uniforms back on to play with their children in the annual family game.

``You play one of the worst games of your career and you've got to go out there and chase your kids around,'' DiSarcina said.

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PHOTO Angels catcher Ben Molina can't tag out Boston's Jason Varitek.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press