ANGELS ENJOY LAUGHER, BEAT YANKEES AGAIN : ANGELS 10 N.Y. YANKEES 2.

Byline: Joe Haakenson San Gabriel Valley-Tribune

New York Yankees manager Joe Torre joked the other day that with a payroll of more than $63 million, his club might be expected to go 162-0. After losing their first two games of the season, including Thursday night's 10-2 setback to the Angels before 29,899 at Edison Field, the joke's on the Yankees.

Angels starter Ken Hill followed teammate Chuck Finley's strong outing on opening night with one of his own. Hill threw six scoreless innings, allowing five hits and four walks while striking out three and earning his 100th career victory.

Dave Hollins and Jim Edmonds each homered in the Angels' 14-hit attack. For Hollins, it was career homer No. 100. Catcher Phil Nevin got his turn behind the plate and delivered a double and three RBI, and Garret Anderson made the defensive play of the game with a sliding catch.

The Angels did most of their damage against the Yankees bullpen, but the loss went to starter David Wells.

A two-game sweep over the highly touted Yankees? Did the Angels make a statement?

``It's way too early to say something like that,'' Angels manager Terry Collins said. ``We were excited to get things going, get the season started. We played good in this series, but we can't take anything for granted. We've got the Indians coming in here (tonight).''

Hill watched as Finley held the Yankees to one run and four hits in seven innings on opening night, and he wanted to keep it going. He did.

``The biggest thing is making pitches when I need to make pitches,'' Hill said. ``With their lineup, there are no easy outs.''

Up on a shelf in Hill's locker was the game ball, representing win No. 100. Hill wasn't about to say it wasn't on his mind as he took the mound Thursday.

``Oh yeah, I knew that,'' he said. ``I finally got it out of the way. I didn't want to prolong it.''

``Kenny was great,'' Collins said. ``Pitching is always going to be the No. 1 thing. And you can put that along side the great play by Garret.''

Anderson made his catch when the game was still in doubt. The Yankees had runners on first and third with two out and the Angels leading 3-0 in the top of the sixth.

Darryl Strawberry lifted a fly ball down the left-field line, but Anderson made the catch while sliding across the foul line.

The Angels broke the game open with two runs in the seventh off Jeff Nelson and five more off Willie Banks to send the Yankees off still looking for win No. 1.

Despite the inflated payroll, Torre says he doesn't feel any pressure to get off to a great start.

``We want to get everybody through their first start,'' he said of the Yankees' starting rotation.

ANGELS vs. CLEVELAND

Time: 7:05 at Edison Field.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports West; KTZN 710-AM, XPRS 1090-AM (Spanish).

Tickets available: About 19,000.

Matchups: The Angels' Jack McDowell (3-3, 5.09 ERA in 1997) opposes the Indians' Dave Burba (11-10, 4.73 in '97). McDowell will make his first start since elbow surgery last May 20. McDowell agreed to an incentive-laden contract, which could pay him anywhere from $1 million to $6 million this season. He graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1984.

- Joe Haakenson

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: Yankees left fielder Darryl Strawberry, left, catches a fly ball and avoids a collision.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Box: ANGELS vs. CLEVELAND (See Text)