ANGELS NOTEBOOK: FULLMER: `AT THE TOP OF MY GAME'.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Brad Fullmer doesn't worry about whether he'll be in the lineup against a left-handed pitcher because, he said, ``I'm going to let that stuff sort itself out.''

It's sorting itself out just fine.

Friday night, Fullmer (Montclair Prep of Panorama City) was in the lineup against a left-handed starter for just the second time this season, starting at designated hitter against Seattle's Jamie Moyer. It's not like Fullmer didn't earn it; he came into the game having reached base in 10 consecutive plate appearances.

``This is my best,'' said Fullmer, whose streak ended two shy of Bobby Grich's team record of 12 when he grounded to first in the third inning Friday. ``I feel like I'm at the top of my game right now. I think I'm seeing more pitches per at-bat and getting more walks, recognizing when people don't want to pitch to you.

``In the past, I might expand my zone. It's being able to recognize when you're hot and trying not to do too much.''

The statistics support his theory. Fullmer was hitting .415 and tied for the team lead in RBI with 14 entering Friday's game. He had drawn nine walks in 41 at-bats, or one for every 4.5 at-bats. Last season, when he struggled until turning it on in September, Fullmer walked once for every 11.3 at-bats.

``Getting walks mixed in is big,'' Fullmer said. ``I feel like I'm swinging as well as I can right now, so let's roll with it. I don't care about my streak thing. For me, it represents driving in runs, scoring runs, which is the name of the game.''

Fullmer's start came at the expense of Scott Spiezio, pushed to the bench so right-handed Shawn Wooten could play first. Wooten usually supplants Fullmer at DH against left-handers. But Spiezio, a switch-hitter, is just 1 for 15 right-handed this season and 5 for 31 lifetime against Moyer.

``From the right side, the (hits) haven't fallen in as much,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``Hopefully, Spiez can catch his breath a bit.''

--New low: Benji Gil said he's never had a worse start to a season.

``Including Little League,'' said Gil, who was hitless in his first 14 at-bats with nine strikeouts. ``I'm not swinging at strikes.''

Gil's low point came Thursday in Texas, when he struck out with the bases loaded in the fifth inning of a tie game. He said ``not one of them'' was close to the strike zone. But it hasn't been easy for Gil to find his timing; he only plays against left-handers, and back spasms sidelined him for a week.

``I had a real good spring and even though I had no hits (before the injury), I felt I had good at-bats,'' Gil said. ``But in Texas, I don't know if I lost concentration. It wasn't that I felt pressured; I just didn't make the pitcher come to me.''

On Friday, Gil broke the spell with a single in his first at-bat, but he grounded into a double play the next time up.

--Added motivation: After Kevin Appier (Antelope Valley High) shut down the Mariners for six innings April 9, outfielder Mike Cameron insinuated he might have been doctoring the baseball, a charge Seattle manager Bob Melvin didn't back off of until a day later.

Tonight, Appier faces the Mariners for the first time since their accusations. And while they won't be at the front of his mind, he hasn't forgotten, either.

``My motivation is extremely extensive without those shenanigans,'' Appier said. ``I'll be thinking about it and talking about it before and after, but not while I'm out there. (Tonight), I'll be thinking about pitching.''

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- Gabe Lacques