TRIBE SPIKES ANGELS ONLY BLOOD, FOURTH STRAIGHT LOSS IS LEFT CLEVELAND 6, ANGELS 3.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

CLEVELAND - The Angels took the high road Saturday against the Cleveland Indians. But when the game was over, all it led to was a 6-3 loss and a catcher bleeding as a result of a slide that would have made Ty Cobb proud.

The loss was the Angels' fourth in a row, their longest losing streak of the season. And while they say there is no reason to panic (they've lost 10 of 14), they went down without a fight in front of 43,162 at Jacobs Field.

The game included a spikes-high slide by the Indians' Manny Ramirez in the fourth inning. Ramirez ran through a stop sign from third-base coach Jim Riggleman and tried to score from second on a single to right by Jim Thome.

Tim Salmon's one-hop throw was on target and catcher Matt Walbeck made the tag despite taking Ramirez's right foot in the groin and upper thigh. The Angels thought the play was dirty, but when Ramirez came to the plate in the following inning - with two out, a runner on second and first base open - Angels starter Scott Schoeneweis never came inside to Ramirez, who flied out to end the inning.

``He apologized to Wally and Wally was fine with it,'' Schoeneweis said. ``I haven't been in too many situations like that. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I'm trying to keep the team in the game. I didn't want to give them too many extra baserunners.''

Walbeck, who was hit by a pitch on the right knee later in the game, suffered a cut high on his inner right thigh. ``A little further to the left and it's goodnight,'' said Walbeck, who said he never considered instructing Schoeneweis to throw at Ramirez.

``Nobody's going to throw at a guy in a tight game,'' he said. ``You play the game and you play hard. I don't think throwing at a guy proves anything. Things like that happen. They shouldn't, but unfortunately they do.

``If there's a play up the middle, our guy is going in hard. Hopefully not with his spikes up.''

From his vantage point in right field, Salmon couldn't see the play well. But after talking with Walbeck, he got the message that the play was dirty.

``Hey, everybody's fair game now,'' Salmon said. ``You have a chance to break up two, put 'em into left field. But keep it clean.''

The Angels can't seem to catch any breaks these days. In an 11-10 loss Friday night, the Angels got plenty of offense and good work from the bullpen but no starting pitching. Saturday, they got seven solid innings from Schoeneweis but little offense and shoddy relief work.

A reason for the Angels' lack of offense came as a result of Indians starter Chuck Finley, who got a no-decision despite pitching well. He gave up two runs (one earned) and five hits in six innings, striking out six and walking four. Salmon, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games, ended Finley's shutout bid with a two-out homer in the sixth. Garret Anderson added an RBI single later in the inning to tie the game at 2.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo: (1) JACKSON

(2) GLAUS

(3) ANDERSON

Box: Chasing Reggie