ANGELS LOSE AGAIN; LANGSTON BATTERED : KANSAS CITY 7, ANGELS 3.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

The Angels' brutalized pitching staff seemed to get a break with Mark Langston on the mound following six days rest.

The layoff, however, worked against Langston (1-2) as he was tagged for 10 hits and six runs in five innings during a 7-3 loss at Kansas City on Saturday night. The left-hander also allowed five runs in the second inning during the Angels' third straight setback that was witnessed by 18,888 spectators at Kauffman Stadium.

``He left his pitches up in the second inning,'' Collins said. ``Six days rest throws a pitcher out of whack.''

The Royals' Mike Macfarlane broke out of an 0-for-17 slump with a three-run homer and Kevin Appier pitched a five-hitter to lead the Royals.

Appier (2-0) struck out four and walked one in his first complete game of the season and 28th of his career. He improved his career record against the Angels to 10-4, including 5-1 at Kauffman Stadium.

``It was a pretty good outing,'' Appier said. ``I was a little wild, but overall I was pleased. I used my fast ball more tonight. My splitter was working, but the slider wasn't real good.''

Angels manager Terry Collins was impressed with Appier.

``He can pitch,'' he said. ``He keeps the ball down. He knows what he is doing out there.''

Macfarlane, who started the season on the disabled list, was hitless this year before homering off Mark Langston with men on first and third in the second inning.

``He took something off the 3-0 pitch,'' Macfarlane said. ``I was just trying to get the barrel of the bat on the ball. I was surprised with what I did.''

Macfarlane has 12 homers against the Angels, his most against any team. He hit .324 against Anaheim last year, and had a career .291 average against the Angels coming into the season.

The Royals, who had scored one run in their previous 18 innings, got six consecutive hits in the second. After Macfarlane's homer, Jay Bell hit an RBI groundout and ex-Angel Chili Davis walked with the bases loaded for a 6-0 lead.

Anaheim got a pair of runs in the sixth on Jim Edmonds' RBI groundout and Tim Salmon's homer. Bell hit his fifth homer of the season in the eighth, and Garret Anderson hit a run-scoring groundout in the ninth.

Notes: Kansas City's Bip Roberts extended his hitting streak to eight games when he beat out a high bouncer to third in the first inning. He singled in each of the first three innings. . . . Kansas City first baseman Jeff King extended his hitting streak to 10 with an infield single in the fourth. . . . Tim Salmon, who had been 0 for 13, had three hits for Anaheim. Every Kansas City starter had at least one hit.

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Photo

Photo: The Royals' Bip Roberts slides safely into home as Angels catcher Jorge Fabregas waits for the throw.

Associated Press