VALDES MAKES PITCH FOR RAISE ECKSTEIN HIT AGAIN IN ANGELS WIN ANGELS 4, KANSAS CITY 1.

ANAHEIM - Ismael Valdes unofficially began his contract negotiations for 2002 on Wednesday night, pitching the Angels to a 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals in front of 12,998 at Edison Field.

Despite the win, the Angels can't help but start planning for next season. They are 11 1/2 games behind Oakland in the wild-card standings.

But September has plenty of meaning for some, especially Valdes, who is nearing the end of his one-year, $2.5 million contract and heading towards free agency.

With center fielder Darin Erstad on the bench to ``relax,'' Valdes gave up one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings, improving to 9-9 and lowering his ERA to 3.97.

It's a big improvement from the 2-5 mark he had last year while with the Cubs and Dodgers, and something that Valdes' recently hired agent, Scott Boras, will be sure to point out once negotiations on a deal for 2002 officially begin. Valdes has said he would like to re-sign with the club, but at what cost?

``It's a year-end issue,'' Angels general manager Bill Stoneman said. ``It's something we'll look into after the season's over, then we'll sort it out.''

Valdes has said he has felt good about his place with the team, particularly his relationship with Angels manager Mike Scioscia.

``I love the atmosphere here,'' Valdes said. ``The young talent, and especially Mike. All the trust he has given me. I needed it. But you never know what is going to happen (in negotiations).''

Scioscia wouldn't speak about the chances of Valdes returning next year but said he has seen good things from him this season.

``From spring training on we saw the velocity coming,'' Scioscia said. ``He looked like the Ismael Valdes I saw when he was throwing 200 innings with the Dodgers. He's answered a lot of questions as far as his career. He's definitely taken a huge step from last year.

``With him, the only question was stamina and durability. He's pitched deep into games and done a great job with that.''

Scott Spiezio's two-run homer off Royals starter Chad Durbin (7-14) gave the Angels a lead in the second inning and Garret Anderson's sacrifice fly made it 3-0 in the third. But it was another Angel who found his way into the record book on Wednesday.

Shortstop David Eckstein got hit by a pitch on the left thigh thrown by Dan Reichert in the seventh inning. It marked the 17th time Eckstein has been hit by a pitch this season, tying Detroit's Heinie Manush for the American League rookie record. Manush, a Hall of Famer, got hit 17 times in 1922.

``My job is to get on base and I'll do whatever it takes,'' Eckstein said. ``But (the record) is not something you plan on.''

Angels designated hitter Shawn Wooten kidded Eckstein about not trying to get the ball as a keepsake. But it was not a good day for Wooten. An MRI Wednesday revealed torn cartilage in his left wrist. Hand and wrist specialist Dr. Norman Zemel will perform arthroscopic surgery on Wooten sometime next week. Wooten finishes his season hitting .312 with eight homers and 32 RBI.

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Benji Gil scores as Kansas City's Brent Mayne bobbles the throw.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press