ANGELS NOTEBOOK: SPARKS TRIES TO MAKE COLLINS' DECISION TOUGH.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

Slumping knuckleballer Steve Sparks was bumped from his Friday night start in favor of Chuck Finley. He knew he might get passed over altogether in his next assignment because the Angels have three days off in the next two weeks.

``So I wanted to make it very difficult on them to do that,'' said Sparks, who won his first game in nearly a month Saturday night, a 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals. ``I want to keep pitching.''

Against the Royals, Sparks certainly did that. After allowing 15 runs in his previous 12 innings, Sparks took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and a chance for his first career shutout into the ninth.

Troy Percival came in after Sparks loaded the bases on a walk to Larry Sutton and allowed a three-run double to pinch-hitter Scott Pose.

``I really want to keep him in there,'' manager Terry Collins said of Sparks. ``He pitched so well and still seemed to have a lot left. But when he threw a bad knuckler on 3-2 (to walk Sutton) I knew I had to go get him.''

Sparks, who did not allow a hit until Carlos Febles' one-out double in the sixth, threw 126 pitches. He figured 100 of those were knucklers and he wasn't going to go with his second pitch even if it meant loading the bases.

``That was the pitch that has gotten me here,'' said Sparks, who hadn't gone more than five innings in his previous three starts. ``I still had a lot left, but now we were looking at the game on the line. I'm glad it all worked out.''

Sheets sits: Andy Sheets, acquired after shortstop Gary DiSarcina broke his left hand in spring training, was benched Saturday night after going hitless in his last 18 at-bats.

Sheets, replaced by Jeff Huson, wasn't expected to provide much offense, but when he committed his first error in his last 25 games Friday, Collins gave him the night off.

``Just seemed like a good time,'' Collins said. ``He has given us more than we could have expected on defense. A rest here and there isn't bad.''

Sheets, acquired March 29 as part of a deal that sent Phil Nevin to San Diego, has never played more than 88 games in a season (1998). Sheets split time last year at short with the Padres' Chris Gomez.

Huson started at first base Thursday against Baltimore and moved to third Friday to give slumping Troy Glaus a breather. Glaus, who entered the game with just three hits in his last 43 at-bats, returned to the lineup. Huson came in batting .375 (3 for 8) on the homestand and had two hits and a stolen a base and scored the Angels' second run in the fourth inning Saturday.

ANGELS vs. KANSAS CITY

Time: 5:05 p.m. at Edison Field.

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

Matchup: In the series finale against the Royals, right-hander Omar Olivares (5-3, 3.02) faces left-hander Jose Rosado (3-3, 2.33). Olivares, who will be making his eighth career start against the Royals, has not had much success. He is 0-4 lifetime with a 7.49 ERA. Rosado, on the other hand, is close to perfect against the Angels. He is 4-0 lifetime with a 2.38 ERA in eight games, including a 2-0 record and 2.37 ERA in Anaheim.

- Matt McHale

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Box: ANGELS vs. KANSAS CITY (See text)