ONE BAT DOES IT FOR ANGELS; IN SPITE OF CONFUSION, TEAM GETS COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN WIN OVER ROYALS.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

A cynic might question why the Angels hitters even bother to bring a bat to the plate, considering their lack of offense this season.

But the Angels tried something different Wednesday night in their 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals before 18,216 at Edison Field.

The first time through the order, all nine Angels batters used the same bat, which belonged to outfielder Jim Edmonds. They went 4 for 8 with a walk, including an RBI double by catcher Ben Molina that drove in the first run of the game.

It was hitting coach Rod Carew's idea to lighten things up a little. Picking Edmonds' bat had no real significance; they also had Gary DiSarcina's bat ready, but they didn't need it.

``It broke the tension a little bit,'' Angels manager Terry Collins said. ``We're just trying to have a little fun.

``I'm sitting in the dugout before the game and I hear someone say, `Let's use one with tape on it because I need a grip on it.' I said `What is going on? They said, `We're using one bat,' so I said. `There better be some (expletive) hits in that bat.''

But it also caused a little confusion. Orlando Palmeiro led off the first inning and struck out looking. He dropped the bat on the plate for DiSarcina, who was up next.

But home-plate umpire Tim Tschida thought Palmeiro was showing him up and threw Palmeiro out of the game. Manager Terry Collins came out of the dugout to explain, and Palmeiro was allowed to stay.

``It was confusing, because I didn't say anything,'' Palmeiro said. ``I didn't do anything in disgust and didn't say anything to him. I was in shock. He said, `Come back and pick up your bat,' and I said, `The next guy's using it.' It was just a misunderstanding.''

The Angels will try just about anything these days to change their fortunes. Going into Wednesday's game, they had scored one run or fewer in nine of the 19 games since the All-Star break.

Overall, they were hitting .231 as a team and averaging 3.0 runs per game since the break.

Molina's double off Royals starter Jay Witasick (4-9) in the second inning not only drove in Darin Erstad (single) to give the Angels a 1-0 lead, but it was Molina's first-major league hit.

Molina, who got into two games last season and had one at-bat, finished 3 for 4. He also got to keep Edmonds' bat.

``I have it right here, and the ball,'' Molina said, pointing to locker. ``It's kind of awesome.''

ANGELS VS. BOSTON

Time: 7:05 p.m. at Edison Field.

TV/Radio: FSW; KLAC-570, XPRS-1090.

Matchup: The Angels begin a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox probably without ex-Boston star Mo Vaughn, who has a staph infection in his right shin. Chuck Finley (5-10, 5.76 ERA) will start tonight's game against Boston's Brian Rose (6-3, 4.24 ERA). Other matchups: Steve Sparks (5-7, 4.90) vs. Bret Saberhagen (7-4, 3.21) on Friday; Jack McDowell (0-3, 7.20) vs. Pat Rapp (3-5, 4.61) on Saturday; and Mike Fyhrie (0-3, 5.00) vs. Pedro Martinez (15-3, 2.48) on Sunday.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, box

PHOTO Anaheim's Jeff Huson forces out the Royals' Chad Kreuter in the third. The Angels won 4-3.

Michael Caulfield/Associated Press

Box: Angels vs. Boston (see text)