SHOWDOWN IN THE WEST; ANGELS TO TEST METTLE IN TEXAS.

Byline: Joe Haakenson

It took some prodding, the same question being posed in various ways, and Angels manager Terry Collins finally gave in. Yes, he said, these games against the Texas Rangers tonight and Thursday are big. Very big.

With a one-game lead and only 12 games to play, the head-to-head matchups - including three next week in Anaheim - could very well decide the American League West title.

But Collins, he of the one-game-at-a-time mentality, forgot about the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and their ilk for a few minutes to recognize what the games against the Rangers mean.

``Yeah, they're more important because you're playing the team right behind you,'' he said. ``Obviously, they will be the biggest games we've played. But they can't be approached any differently by us. There will be no secret meetings. We'll do it as we do before every series.''

Collins added: ``It still comes down to execution. You can be sky-high emotionally, but if you don't catch the ball, if you don't move runners over, if you don't pitch, you're not going to win.''

After Tuesday's 8-1 loss to the Devil Rays, Collins said he thought all the talk about the Rangers series might have been a distraction. Angels players say it wasn't, but they're glad to finally decide it on the field.

``Enough talking about it, let's get it on, let's play,'' Angels shortstop Gary DiSarcina said. ``As far as I'm concerned, the five games will decide the division. . . . May the best team win.''

The Angels have done well against the Rangers this season, winning three of four in Texas and two of three in Anaheim. They scored a season-high 18 runs on June 13 in a 12-point victory.

But it is the Texas offense that gets the headlines. The Rangers lead the American League in hitting with a .289 average. They rank second in the league behind only the New York Yankees in runs scored. And they have one of the most feared hitters in the league in Juan Gonzalez, who leads the majors with 151 RBI.

Texas' offensive potency has many players and managers around the league favoring the Rangers to win the division. The most recent prediction came from Kansas City manager Tony Muser after his team had played the Angels and Rangers in back-to-back series. Muser said he liked the Rangers' chances better.

``Every time I pick up a sports page, there are managers talking about how good Texas is,'' Collins said. ``That doesn't bother me. We still have to play. I know they're a good team. But so are we.''

Collins said the underdog role might even be good for his team.

``In a lot of ways, it makes it easier to play,'' he said. ``It's why in New York it worked out so well. (The Angels have fared well against New York this season.) When you play the Yankees, you're not supposed to win. So you relax and play.''

The Angels are a relaxed team. They haven't seemed adversely affected by the pressure of a pennant race. Even after being swept by the Orioles in Baltimore over the weekend, they came to the ballpark in St. Petersburg loose, many players laughing and roughhousing with each other before the game.

``People talk about this club and the September swan song,'' Collins said. ``Well, I don't know anything about that. There's a core of guys that were here in '95, but most of the guys don't know much about history.''

``You have a feeling it's going to come down to this showdown,'' designated hitter Tim Salmon said. ``We've got two there and three at our place. This is how it should be.''

SEASON SERIES

The Angels and Texas Rangers have met seven times this year and the Angels lead the series 5-2. Home team in CAPS.

June 12: Angels 5, RANGERS 1

June 13: Angels 18, RANGERS 6

June 14: RANGERS 4, Angels 2

June 15: Angels 8, RANGERS 5

June 19: Rangers 7, ANGELS 3

June 20: ANGELS 8, Rangers 3

June 21: ANGELS 10, Rangers 7

ANGELS vs. TEXAS

Time: 5:05 p.m., at The Ballpark at Arlington, Texas.

TV/Radio: No TV; KRLA 1110-AM, XPRS 1090-AM (Spanish).

Matchups: The Angels' Chuck Finley (11-7, 3.34 ERA) will face the Rangers' Todd Stottlemyre (3-4, 5.56 ERA). Finley has won only one of his past four starts, but manager Terry Collins wouldn't want anyone else pitching for him in a big game. ``I know what he can do in a big game,'' Collins said. ``With a game like this he has the ability to step up. He's shown it so many times.'' However, Finley has struggled against Texas this year and in his career. He is 0-2 in 1998 and 7-14 lifetime against the Rangers.

- Joe Haakenson

CAPTION(S):

2 Boxes

BOX: (1) SEASON SERIES (see text)

(2) ANGELS vs. TEXAS (see text)