NOT EQUAL TO THE TASK; ANGELS GO DOWN MEEKLY IN OPENER AGAINST TEXAS : TEXAS 9, ANGELS 1.

Byline: Joe Haakenson

The series opener between the Angels and Texas Rangers on Monday night offered no drama, no tense moments, nothing resembling a pennant race.

But the Angels couldn't blame their crowd, even though the gathering was well short of capacity. For this one, they had to take full responsibility.

The Rangers jumped out to a five-run lead in the fourth inning and cruised behind the solid pitching of Todd Stottlemyre to a 9-1 victory before 33,487 at Edison Field.

It gave the Rangers a one-game lead in the American League West with six to play, including two with the Angels - tonight at Wednesday.

Stottlemyre beat the Angels last Wednesday in Arlington, Texas, allowing only one run in eight innings. The Angels said that seeing him recently would help them Monday, but it didn't quite work out that way. Stottlemyre (5-4) worked out of a first-inning jam and pitched seven scoreless innings while allowing six hits. He struck out seven and walked four.

Angels starter Steve Sparks, pitching on three days' rest, lost to Texas for the second time in less than a week.

The Angels entered the game with some momentum, having beaten the Mariners the past two nights while Texas was losing their previous two to Oakland. ``We've played our butts off for 5-1/2 months,'' Angels manager Terry Collins said before the game. ``To get to this point, I'd sure like to keep it going and not have it blow up in our face.''

Though the Rangers didn't hit bombs - nine of their 13 hits were singles and they didn't hit a home run - they hit Sparks and three relievers early and often.

Sparks (9-4) was never able to find a rhythm with his knuckleball, getting knocked out of the game after giving up five runs (three earned) and seven hits in 3-2/3 innings. Then again, he didn't get much help from the defense.

Second baseman Randy Velarde booted Mark McLemore's routine grounder in the first inning, leading to an unearned run. In the second inning, Todd Zeile doubled to right-center and Lee Stevens tried to score from first.

Velarde's relay throw to catcher Chad Kreuter was in time, but Kreuter dropped the ball and Stevens was safe. Sparks appeared as though he might get out of the inning with just the one run, but his wild pitch with two out allowed Zeile to score and make it 3-0.

In the fourth, a single by Zeile and a double by Royce Clayton set up Tom Goodwin's sacrifice fly and Rusty Greer's RBI single for a 5-0 Rangers lead that sent Sparks to the showers.

Sparks, who had pitched into the seventh inning in 13 of his first 19 starts, has failed to get out of the fourth inning in his past two, both against the Rangers. He gave up four runs and seven hits in 1-2/3 innings in last Thursday's 7-6 loss at Texas.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

PHOTO (1--Color) The Rangers' Mark McLemore is greeted by Ivan Rodriguez after scoring in the first inning.

(2) The Rangers' Todd Zeile is late with the tag as Randy Velarde steals third in the first inning.

Michael Caulfield/Associated Press

BOX: DOWN TO THE WIRE

The Angels lost to Texas 9-1 Monday to fall one game behind the Rangers in the AL West. They play each other two more times with six games to play.