COLLINS REBUTS AL PRESIDENT : ANGELS 8, SEATTLE 1.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Angels manager Terry Collins, as angry as anyone that an ugly, 15-minute brawl interrupted his team's game in Kansas City the night before, was stung by comments made by American League president Gene Budig at a news conference Wednesday.

Budig called the ninth-inning melee ``a low point for major-league baseball'' and promised the punishment he announces Friday will be severe. Budig indicated he holds the teams' managers at least partly responsible for the series of events, which resulted in 12 ejections.

``I was distressed by the utter disregard for safety on the field,'' said Budig, who was at the game. ``There was a clear breakdown in leadership on the part of the teams' managers and coaches. . . . I will respond in what I believe is a fair but very firm way.''

Collins, questioned before Wednesday's 8-1 victory against Seattle, at first declined comment when told of Budig's remarks. However, he later said he felt wrongly indicted.

``We stopped the first one,'' Collins said, referring to a fracas in the seventh inning. ``The second one, I was in the clubhouse. (Budig) says it's a breakdown in leadership. I take that personally and I disagree with that. That's pretty strong to question the leadership of someone when he doesn't know what was said.''

Collins was ejected in the eighth inning after Rich DeLucia hit the Royals' Dean Palmer. Collins said he did not come out of the clubhouse during the ninth-inning brawl because he thought it was against the rules. In fact, Collins kept Phil Nevin from leaving the clubhouse.

Nevin was ejected in the seventh inning after charging Royals pitcher Jim Pittsley, who was the second Royals pitcher to hit Nevin with a pitch. The ensuing tangle appeared to be more a result of both teams attempting to stop it.

Collins said he told the umpires ``it's over'' after DeLucia hit Palmer. But then Royals pitcher Scott Service hit Darin Erstad in the ninth inning. And when Angels pitcher Mike Holtz hit Kansas City's Jose Offerman with a pitch and Offerman shook his bat at Holtz as he yelled at him, the benches cleared.

There was much yelling and some grappling, but the meeting appeared to be breaking up when Kansas City's Felix Martinez ran in from the side and punched Angels utility player Frank Bolick. A series of Angels tackled Martinez in succession before Jack McDowell punched Martinez numerous times. And a few separate, smaller fights ensued.

``If Martinez doesn't hit Bolick,'' Collins said, ``it's over.''

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PHOTO Seattle Mariners shortstop Alex Rodriguez follows through on a double-play throw to first as the Angels' Tim Salmon slides in.

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press