ANGELS FINE-TUNED FOR SERIES AGAINST RANGERS : ANGELS 10 ARIZONA 5.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

For two months, the Angels felt somewhat helpless as they watched the Texas Rangers win at an alarming rate.

Some players even admitted there was a stretch where the Rangers' success got to them. It was frustrating winning, then going into the clubhouse and seeing that they had gained no ground on the division leaders.

The Angels' nine-game winning streak, which ended Wednesday, was a good example. They started the streak five games behind Texas in the AL West standings, and nine victories later, they were still three games behind.

After getting back on the winning track Thursday night with a 10-5 win to close the series against Arizona, the Angels find a period of 10 days in which they are no longer powerless. With Anaheim trailing the Rangers by 2-1/2 games, the teams begin a four-game series today at The Ballpark in Arlington.

The Angels then play host to Seattle while the Rangers play host to Oakland for three days. And next Friday through Sunday, it's head-to-head again in Anaheim.

``Any time you have an opportunity to play a team you're chasing seven times in a week-and-a-half, it's big,'' Angels shortstop Gary DiSarcina said. ``At the end of that time, we have no one to look at but ourselves.''

DiSarcina is not alone in his thinking. Nor does he represent the consensus.

``It's early,'' Angels first baseman Cecil Fielder said with a dismissive grin. ``Very early. If this series were in September, I'd be telling you how big it's going to be. It's June. Even if we get swept, we're only seven games out of first place. Then they come back to our place, we win three and it's back to four (games out).''

What is more likely is one team winning four of the seven, causing only a ripple in the standings.

``If we split, that's fine,'' Angels manager Terry Collins said. ``One thing you don't want to do is get in a situation where they're blowing you out. Right now what we want is to go in and win two. Three would be great.''

Against the Diamondbacks, Dave Hollins homered twice and Darin Erstad also homered and had four hits as the Angels won.

Hollins and Matt Walbeck homered to key a five-run first inning for the Angels. Garret Anderson homered later for Anaheim.

Jason Dickson (6-4) won his fifth straight decision.

ANGELS VS. TEXAS

Time: 5:35 p.m. at Arlington, Texas.

TV/Radio: Channel 9; KRLA-AM (1110), XPRS-AM (1090 Spanish).

Matchup: Angels RHP Omar Olivares (3-2, 2.89 ERA) faces Rangers RHP John Burkett (4-5, 6.30) in the opener of a four-game series. The second-place Angels trail the first-place Rangers by 2-1/2 games in the AL West.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: The Angels' Matt Walbeck, right, is congratulated by Cecil Fielder and Jim Edmonds following his three-run homer in the first inning.

Ken Levine/Associated Press

Box: ANGELS vs. TEXAS (See Text)