ANGELS NOTEBOOK: NO PUT-DOWN TO SAY BUNTING IS BAD.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

BOSTON - Instead of Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez, the Angels will face Bronson Arroyo and Tim Wakefield in the next two games of their American League Division Series.

That should be the recipe for the Angels to get back into a series the Red Sox have dominated in taking a 2-0 lead. But the Angels also realize it doesn't matter who's pitching so long as their offensive execution remains abysmal.

And it's not the big boppers that has manager Mike Scioscia concerned. Sure, Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson are a combined 1 for 16, but consider this:

When was the last time a Scioscia-managed team failed to get three bunts down in one game, as was the case Wednesday, when Chone Figgins, David Eckstein and Jose Molina all failed to do so?

``We have to take full advantage of execution in the game,'' Eckstein said Thursday while attempting to recall the last time he failed to get a bunt down at any level. ``It's the whole point. If we go out and execute our jobs, I feel very confident in this club.''

If, as Schilling noted before the series began, momentum is that day's starting pitcher, the tide could shift toward the Angels. Arroyo, today's Game 3 starter, was 0-1 with a 9.72 ERA in two starts against the Angels this season. Wakefield gave up five earned runs in four innings of one start.

``We win, it puts added pressure on them,'' Eckstein said. ``(Today) is desperation time for us.''

But the tide will turn only as much as the Angels make it. Their poor execution began in the second inning of Game 1, when Jeff DaVanon failed to get a runner to third with no outs in a scoreless game. There's no margin of error remaining.

``The only way to get there is start doing the things that got us here and if we do, we can get on a roll to turn the series around,'' Scioscia said.

--No word on Game 4: With the Angels facing an elimination game, Scioscia was not prepared to name a Game 4 starter. John Lackey will be available in the bullpen today, and that could force the Angels to start Jarrod Washburn on three days' rest in a Game 4.

``We might need (Lackey) to win (today's) game,'' Scioscia said. ``We're not going to hold anything back.''

--No offense intended: Eckstein took no offense from the playful swipe Martinez gave him after Eckstein flew out to left on a 12-pitch at-bat in the seventh inning of Game 2. The two know each other from spring training with Boston when Eckstein was in the Red Sox organization.

``He's always done something like that with me,'' Eckstein said. ``He always says something.''

--Taking it in stride: Rookie third baseman Dallas McPherson, a big leaguer for a month, says nothing has overwhelmed him so far this series, and that will continue today, when he plays at Fenway Park for the first time.

McPherson has one hit in seven at-bats in the series, an RBI single off Martinez. On a Thursday, while getting questioned by a Boston-area reporter, he heard for the first time the locals' unique pronunciation of ``park.'' Playing at Fenway will be just another part of that process.

``I'll look up, say, `This is nice,' and go play ball,'' McPherson said.

--Schilling has X-rays: Schilling, who would pitch a Game 5 in Anaheim on Sunday if necessary, had precautionary X-rays taken on his right ankle before Wednesday's Game 2. Francona expects Schilling will make his next start.