K.C. HITS GLASS SELE ANGELS LOSE FOR THIRD TIME IN LAST FOUR GAMES KANSAS CITY 7, ANGELS 4.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It's official. The Angels have come back to earth.

After winning 21 of 24 games and making the rest of the American League notice, the Angels now have lost three of their past four games, including a 7-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night in front of 11,773 at Kauffman Stadium.

It also was the Angels' second consecutive loss, something they haven't done since losing to Seattle on April 22-23. They missed a chance to gain a game on the first-place Mariners, who lost, and remain three games out in the AL West.

The Angels jumped out to a 3-0 lead three batters into the game when Darin Erstad hit a two-run homer and Troy Glaus followed with a solo homer. But Royals starter Paul Byrd (8-2) stifled the Angels after that. He didn't allow another Angel to reach second base until Garret Anderson homered with two out in the eighth.

By that time, Angels starter Aaron Sele had blown the lead and put the Angels in a hole. Sele (4-3) gave up seven runs and a season-high 11 hits in five-plus innings. His worst inning was the fourth, when he gave up five runs and six hits.

``He didn't make that many bad pitches that inning,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``But he didn't hit spots in key times. He wasn't able to change speeds like he had early in the game. Obviously, it affected him.''

Sele's ERA rose to 5.31 and he failed to pitch seven innings for the ninth time in his 10 starts this season. Still, Sele has a winning record, which is more a reflection of the offensive support he's received. The Angels have averaged 6.0 runs per game in Sele's starts.

``I don't think I've pitched overly well,'' said Sele, who signed a three-year, $24 million contract before the season. ``At the same time, it doesn't matter because we've been winning games. I've pitched innings and given the team a chance to win. I take it a game at a time and try to get better in between starts.''

Angels catcher Bengie Molina said he has been ``frustrated'' by trying to catch Sele, who throws a fastball, curveball, changeup, slider and cutter.

``For me to catch that guy, it's kind of hard,'' Molina said. ``He can throw any pitch at any time. I try to read his mind but sometimes I get frustrated when he shakes me off, just because I want to be with him.''

Sele had pitched better lately: Going into Tuesday's game, he was 4-0 in his previous five starts. He got through the first three innings Tuesday before the game changed in the fourth.

Sele had been getting ahead in the count with first-pitch fastballs, but in the fourth the Royals adjusted and started swinging early in the count.

Mike Sweeney, Joe Randa and Michael Tucker singled to begin the fourth inning, Sweeney scoring on Tucker's single. After a sacrifice bunt by Mark Quinn, Luis Alicea doubled in two to tie the game at 3.

One out later, Niefi Perez singled home Alicea and Carlos Febles tripled to score Perez for a 5-3 Kansas City lead. The Royals added two more runs in the sixth and knocked Sele out of the game.

``I don't think we're seeing Aaron at his best, or even average production from Aaron Sele,'' Scioscia said. ``This guy is a horse, he will pitch deep into games and do it on a consistent basis. ... The important thing is to pitch ahead in the count and put hitters away. That's where he's had trouble.''

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Angels pitcher Aaron Sele tries to regroup after surrendering a triple to Carlos Febles in the fourth inning Tuesday.

Ed Zurga/Associated Press