ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ANGELS GET POWER-HITTING FIRST BASEMAN FROM REDS.

Byline: Joe Haakenson

The Angels added yet another new face to the roster Friday, making a trade with the Cincinnati Reds for first baseman Mark Johnson. The Reds will get a player to be announced.

Johnson, who played three seasons with the Pirates from 1995-97, had just finished the season for Indianapolis, the Reds' Triple-A team, when he learned of the trade.

Johnson was driving from Indianapolis to his home in Connecticut with his wife, son and dog when his agent called him on his car phone to tell him of the trade.

``We were 20 miles from Columbus, Ohio,'' said Johnson, who joined the Angels in Baltimore on Friday. ``At least we were headed in the right direction. It made the trip a lot easier.''

Johnson, 30, hit .300 with 22 homers and 75 RBI for Indianapolis this season.

``The one thing we didn't have . . . with (Orlando) Palmeiro and (Reggie) Williams we've got guys who get on base, but we didn't have left-handed sock off the bench,'' manager Terry Collins said. ``And he's a pretty good first baseman, too.''

The acquisition of Johnson is the fourth since the non-waiver trading deadline passed on July 31. Since then the Angels have obtained pitchers Jeff Juden and Mike Fetters, and outfielder/first baseman Gregg Jefferies. The Angels announced that the player to be announced in the Jefferies deal is pitcher Doug Nickle. Nickle went a combined 11-8 for Single-A Lake Elsinore and Cedar Rapids this season.

Hill will pitch: Pitcher Ken Hill, who took a line drive off his right (pitching) hand Wednesday night against the Twins, said he'll make his next start Monday against Tampa Bay. Hill had to come out of the game after Todd Walker's liner went toward Hill's head. Hill reached up to protect himself and ended up bruising his thumb and index and middle fingers when he deflected the ball.

``You see the ball coming back at you like that, it's scary,'' Hill said. ``A lot of balls have come through the box this year, a lot of guys have got hit.''

Glaus sits: Third baseman Troy Glaus was not in the starting lineup Friday for the second game in a row, only this time it wasn't because his wrist was bothering him. Glaus felt a twinge in his left wrist when swinging on Tuesday and sat out Wednesday's game, but said Friday he was fine.

``Terry's doing what he thinks he has to do to help the team win,'' Glaus said. ``I accept that. Granted, I'd rather be playing, but that's the way it goes.''

Craig Shipley started in Glaus' place. Glaus has only one hit in his past 18 at-bats.

``He just needed to step back and take a deep breath,'' Collins said. ``We put a big load on him. And the last two games, Shipley has really swung the bat good.''

Erstad progressing: First baseman Darin Erstad, out since Sept. 2 with a strained left hamstring, did some light running Friday and hit soft toss into a net. He's making steady progress but is still at least a week away.

Tickets to go on sale: The Angels will begin selling playoff tickets today.

ANGELS vs. ORIOLES

Time: 10:05 a.m., at Camden Yards.

TV/Radio: Channel 11; KRLA-AM (1110), XPRS-AM (1090) (Spanish).

Matchups: The Angels' Steve Sparks (9-3, 4.47 ERA) faces the Orioles' Mike Mussina (13-8, 3.45 ERA). Sparks had won six consecutive decisions before losing 5-0 to Brad Radke and the Twins last Tuesday. He has been vital to the Angels' success this season in wake of the injuries to Jack McDowell and Ken Hill. ``He absolutely saved us, no doubt,'' manager Terry Collins said.

- Joe Haakenson

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Box: ANGELS vs. ORIOLES (See Text)