ANGELS NOTEBOOK: QUINLAN IS PROVING HE BELONGS.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

MINNEAPOLIS - Robb Quinlan's first few stints with the Angels the past two seasons ended in similar fashion - a punchless performance at the plate followed by a quiet vow before he was returned to Triple-A Salt Lake.

``He's told us many times when we've sent him down, 'I can play up here if you let me play,' '' hitting coach Mickey Hatcher said. ``He's sticking it to a lot of us right now.''

Tuesday was a high-water mark for the rookie utilityman. He returned to his old stomping grounds of the Metrodome, where his University of Minnesota teams played about 20 games a year, and brought with him a 13-game hitting streak. Compelled to get his bat in the lineup, the Angels started him at designated hitter, and he extended the streak to 14 with a fifth-inning single.

Quinlan wrangled 16 seats for family and friends and assigned the remaining ticket broker duties to his mother. He enjoyed an off-day dinner Monday at his family's Maplewood, Minn. home, a few hours after he was named American League Rookie of the Month.

It was an honor Quinlan was unaware of until Tuesday. If he sticks in the major leagues, it will be the most pivotal month of his career.

Entering July, Quinlan had a .323 slugging percentage this season, a poor number for any player, let alone someone limited to corner infield and outfield spots. July changed everything.

He slugged .648 last month, socking the first two homers of his career, and hit his third Sunday to key a comeback win over Seattle. Hatcher said Quinlan ``realized to be in the big leagues, he's got to hit the ball a lot harder,'' and Quinlan applied that to his preparation.

Suddenly, he looks more like the 1999 Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and less like the player who went 177 at-bats before hitting his first major-league home run. He's now hitting .339 and slugging .517.

``I changed my swing just a tad,'' he said. ``I put a little more weight behind it. And the more opportunities you get, the more comfortable seeing big-league pitchers, you can put some patterns together. I've always been confident in my hitting.''

--Vote of confidence for Ortiz: In another sign Ramon Ortiz soon will be a regular part of the rotation, the Angels switched Ortiz's and Sele's starts this week, with Ortiz throwing today and Sele on Thursday. Manager Mike Scioscia said he wants Ortiz to remain on a regular schedule.

It enables the Angels to fold Jarrod Washburn back in the rotation and into Sele's spot when he's ready to return from a rib cage injury. Washburn, who was scheduled to start Thursday, will try again to throw a bullpen session today or Thursday in hopes of rejoining the rotation next Tuesday.

The Angels got a break when Minnesota starter Brad Radke requested the club not skip No. 5 starter Terry Mulholland with Monday's day off. Radke, 12-5 with a 1.65 ERA lifetime against the Angels, was supposed to face them Thursday. Instead, Mulholland will start.

--Injury report: Outfielder Jeff DaVanon (back) went through a rigorous pregame workout and could join Triple-A Salt Lake or Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on a rehab assignment by Thursday. He is eligible to be activated Monday.

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- Gabe Lacques