AT LEAST NO ONE SAW THIS LOSS; ANGELS GO DOWN QUIETLY TO K.C. : KANSAS CITY 4 ANGELS 2.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Deputy Sports Editor 

The smallest crowd in three months came to Anaheim Stadium on Thursday night to open the biggest homestand of the season.

Maybe it knew something the Angels didn't.

With a chance to pick up a game on Seattle in the American League West, the fading Angels dropped their eighth game in the last nine with a 4-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals in front of 14,790 frustrated fans.

Three times the Angels had the tying run in scoring position with less than two outs. Three times they were turned back. They still trail the Mariners by 5-1/2 games, but there are just 16 to play.

``It can be frustrating because you know this thing can come to an end in 15 or 16 days,'' Angels knuckleballer Dennis Springer said. ``With Seattle not playing well, we need to take advantage.'' Even before the Mariners lost 3-1 to Detroit, the Angels were hoping to make a move.

On this eight-game homestand they play Kansas City, Minnesota and Oakland - the league's three worst teams.

But after Springer (8-9) gave up home runs to Roderick Myers and Dean Palmer, the Angels looked like they were still reeling from their 1-5 road trip.

``I'm not getting down on this,'' said Tony Phillips. ``If we continue to get chances like this, we are going to win some games.''

Trailing by three in the seventh, the Angels finally scored when Tim Salmon hit his 31st homer, off Royals' starter Kevin Appier (9-12).

The Angels then chased Appier after Dave Hollins doubled and Garret Anderson singled him to third with one out. Pinch hitter Chris Turner walked to load the bases, but Gary DiSarcina grounded sharply to Palmer at third to start the Royals' third double play of the night.

``Palmer's play turned the game around for us,'' Kansas City manager Tony Muser said. ``In this game, defense is very underrated.''

Of course, Palmer was talking about the home run.

``I just timed it right,'' he said. ``You can do that with the knuckler. You have to sit back and see it as long as you can. Don't go get it. Let it come to you.''

The Angels outhit the Royals 11-7, including three apiece by Hollins and Anderson, who were a combined 6 for 43 on the road trip.

Others continued to slump, most notably leadoff hitter Rickey Henderson, who was 0 for 4 Thursday and has just six hits in his last 39 at-bats.

``Cruel damn game,'' Phillips said.

The Angels also squandered scoring chances in the second and fifth innings against Appier.

They loaded the bases with one out in the second on singles by Jim Edmonds, Hollins and Anderson. But Chad Krueter grounded sharply to third to begin an inning-ending double play.

The fifth was even more frustrating.

Hollins opened with a single and raced to third on a base hit by Anderson. With Krueter at the plate, Anderson took off for second, hoping to get into a rundown and stay alive long enough to get Hollins home. But first baseman Jeff King threw a one-hopper to catcher Mike Sweeney, who tagged out Hollins.

Plays like that made it difficult for Springer, who hasn't won in his past six starts.

He pitched into the eighth inning but left after Jay Bell's single put runners at the corners with one out. Mike James came in to face Chili Davis, whose liner to right was trapped by Salmon. Umpire Tim McClelland ruled it an out even though replays showed the ball skipping into Salmon's glove.

It didn't matter. The Royals had their fourth run.

``I felt really good out there, the best of my last 3-4 starts,'' Springer said. ``I made two bad pitches and they took advantage. With a pitcher like Appier, you can't do that. I left two knuckleballs up.

``Other than that, this is a team game and right now we aren't playing well.''