ANGELS NOTEBOOK: SALMON THINKS LESS, AND HITTING MORE.

ANAHEIM - Tim Salmon went into Friday's game with an eight-game hitting streak, during which he batted .444 (12 for 27). And while it might be too little, too late to bring his season numbers up to respectability, Salmon says it couldn't hurt to take something positive into the offseason.

``It is important,'' he said. ``Every swing of the bat, I'm trying to find my stroke and have something to build on.''

Salmon said the big difference now is that he's simplifying things at the plate.

``All year long, it was 'Analyze this, analyze that,' '' he said. ``Now I'm not thinking about it. I look for certain pitches and try to make good passes on it. I'm reacting to it, I'm getting back to what I did in the past.''

Salmon hit .206 before the All-Star break and has hit .276 since the break, bringing his average up to .233 before Friday's game. His power numbers, however, are down to 15 homers and 43 RBI.

--In the clutch: Catcher Bengie Molina's game-winning, RBI single in the 10th inning Thursday against the Royals was his 15th ``clutch RBI'' of the season. A clutch RBI is an RBI that drives in the tying or go-ahead run.

Molina has been one of the Angels' most reliable hitters in key situations and he says there is a reason.

``It's funny,'' he said. ``I was talking with my brother (Jose) about it. With no one on base, I take pitches and I'm not as aggressive. With people on base, I concentrate on hitting the ball better and staying back. I've got to do that every time.''

--Winning's what counts: Closer Troy Percival was only 30 minutes removed from serving up a game-tying, three-run homer in the ninth inning Thursday to the Kansas City Royals' Carlos Beltran, for only his third blown save in 41 opportunities this season, when he was laughing and joking with teammates in the clubhouse.

``This is not a selfish sport,'' Percival said. ``You have a bad day and you win, it's a good day.''

The Angels have won all three games in which Percival blew a save: June 16 vs. the Dodgers, July 21 vs. Baltimore and Thursday's game vs. Kansas City.

ANGELS vs. MINNESOTA

Time: 7:05 p.m., at Edison Field.

TV/Radio: No TV; 570-AM, 1090-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: RH Pat Rapp (5-11, 4.57 ERA) will start for the Angels against Minnesota RH Rick Reed (2-3, 5.54). Rapp, who hasn't won in his past four starts, said he doesn't expect to be back with the Angels next season. The Angels are Rapp's sixth team in the past five seasons.

- Joe Haakenson

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ANGELS vs. MINNESOTA (see text)