ANGELS LOOK TO MAKE HAY AT HOME.

Byline: Marc J. Spears Daily News Staff Writer

The Angels return home tonight to begin an eight-game homestand against teams with the three worst records in the American League.

They only hope it still matters.

The Angels have dropped seven of eight, 17 of 24and fallen 5-1/2 games behind Seattle in the American League West with 17 to play.

``Everybody goes through these (bad stretches),'' Angels manager Terry Collins said. ``I wish we went through this in April like the Dodgers who are now playing great.

``This is when you want to play your best . . . at this particular time of the year. But we're not. We got to just continue to battle through it, hopefully get hot the next couple of days and finish that way.''

They hoped to get hot on a six-game trip to Detroit and Toronto, but went 1-5. Tuesday, they lost to the Blue Jays' Chris Carpenter, who entered the game with a 1-7 record and 6.84 ERA. He pitched a three-hit 2-0 shutout.

During the disappointing trip, the Angels' starters were 0-3, relievers were 1-2 with two blown saves and the offense was offensive by batting .201.

``You don't want to start playing bad this time of year because you're running out of games,'' said Angels left-hander Chuck Finley, out for the season with a fractured left wrist, ``You don't have the luxury of 120 more games to go.''

Angels third baseman Dave Hollins said, ``We get the pitching and don't hit. We hit and don't shut the door with the pitching. It is one of those team things that we have to battle through.''

The homestand begins against the Kansas City Royals, who are last in the AL Central. Minnesota began Wednesday's action just a half game ahead of Kansas City. Oakland has the worst record in baseball and is 0-11 against the Angels this season.

But the Angels are is just 4-3 against Kansas City this season (1-1 at home) and have dropped six of nine to Minnesota (1-2 at home).

Seattle plays seven of its final nine games against the A's.

``I don't care if we are playing ourselves, it is going to be a tough road,'' said Tim Salmon, who this week became the first Angel to hit at least 30 home runs in three consecutive seasons. ``At this point of the season, there aren't going to be any easy teams. I guess maybe we are fortunate that we are not playing teams like Baltimore and New York again. But Minnesota and Kansas City are going to be tough. They are always tough in September and they are not going to hand it to us.''

Yes, the odds are against the Angels, who have never won a divisional title when trailing at the All-Star break (4-1/2 behind Seattle in 1997).

``It will certainly be difficult,'' said Angels shortstop Gary DiSarcina. ``But it is definitely something we can accomplish. We obviously have to play good baseball the last two weeks. Hopefully, the worst is behind us and we can get back to playing the way we did the first four months.

``If we play that way and come up short, so be it. But if we play that way, and by chance Seattle slips a little bit and we catch them, we may be able to do it.''

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

Photo: (1) Angels manager Terry Collins, left, hopes the Angels do well enough in their final 17 games to make the AL West race exciting again.

Daily News File Photo

(2) SPRINGER

Box: ANGELS TODAY