ANGELS NOTEBOOK: MORE TROUBLES FOR MCDOWELL.

Byline: Joe Haakenson

For Jack McDowell, his five starts since coming back from elbow problems have been either feast or famine.

McDowell lasted only 2-1/3 innings and gave up six runs and five hits Sunday, but didn't get the loss because the Angels rallied to tie the game before eventually losing. But it continued a trend of hit or miss for McDowell since his 2-1/2 months on the disabled list.

He has been spectacular in three of his starts, horrible in the other two. In his three wins, his starts have gone like this: 7 innings, 0 runs, 5 hits; 7 innings, 2 runs, 6 hits; 6-2/3 innings, 1 run, 6 hits. All were victories.

His bad starts have gone like this: 3 innings, 5 runs, 6 hits; 2-1/3 innings, 6 runs, 5 hits.

``I don't know why, I don't know what the reason is,'' said McDowell, 4-3 with a 4.66 ERA overall this season. ``(The bad starts) all happened early. I didn't have a chance to get into a flow really. And still, it's not like I can't stop it before I give up six runs.''

McDowell gave up all six runs in the third inning Sunday and didn't get out of the inning. It wasn't as though he got hit hard - he gave up three hits in the inning, including a bunt single - but the walks killed him. In the third inning alone, he walked four (one intentionally). Overall, he walked five.

``It turned into an ugly inning,'' he said. ``At some point I'm going to have to learn what I can do when I get behind (in the count). When I've pitched well, I've gotten ahead in the count.''

Off the Hill: Pitcher Ken Hill won't make his scheduled start tonight against Tampa Bay because of inflammation in his right elbow. Omar Olivares will go instead.

But Hill, who had surgery on the elbow June 15, will make a start Friday in Anaheim against the Mariners. Hill felt some soreness in his elbow after his last start, Wednesday in Anaheim, and felt it again Saturday during his between-starts workout.

Manager Terry Collins said Hill's soreness could be a result of the line drive he deflected with his right hand in Wednesday's game. Hill suffered two bruised fingers and a bruised thumb, but continued to pitch, facing two more batters before being removed.

``It could have been when he hurt his hand he changed his delivery,'' Collins said. ``Change the grip on the ball and it affects the muscles in his arm.''

ANGELS vs. TAMPA BAY

Time: 4:05 p.m. at Tropicana Field.

TV/Radio: No TV; KRLA 1110-AM, XPRS 1090-AM (Spanish).

Matchups: The Angels' Omar Olivares (8-8, 4.00 ERA) opposes the Devil Rays' Wilson Alvarez (6-13, 4.54). Ken Hill has inflammation in his right elbow and can't make the start. For Olivares, it will be his first start since Aug. 25 against the Yankees. In that one, he lasted only 3-1/3 innings and gave up four runs on nine hits. The Angels, though, came back to win 7-6.

- Joe Haakenson

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Box

BOX: ANGELS vs. TAMPA BAY (see text)