Dickson Is in Control--Again

Lost in the excitement of Jim Edmonds’ spectacular catch Tuesday night was another superb outing by rookie right-hander Jason Dickson, who gave up two runs--one earned--on six hits in seven innings in the Angels’ 6-2 victory over the Royals.

Dickson (8-2) was not overpowering--he did not strike out a batter for the first time in 14 starts--but he didn’t walk a batter for the second consecutive start and used his changeup to help induce six infield popups.

The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the second when Tim Salmon doubled and scored on Garret Anderson’s RBI single off Kansas City ace Kevin Appier, who failed for the seventh consecutive start to notch victory No. 100.

The Royals tied it in the fifth on Jeff King’s double and Chili Davis’ RBI single, but after Johnny Damon singled to put runners at first and second with none out, Dickson got three flyouts to get out of the inning.

Edmonds’ RBI single scored Darin Erstad with the go-ahead run in the sixth, and after Edmonds stole third, he scored on Salmon’s sacrifice fly to make it 3-1. Salmon’s two-run homer in the eighth made it 5-2, and Chad Kreuter added a homer in the ninth.

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Edmonds was involved in the most incredible--and most bizarre--plays of Tuesday’s game. With Tony Phillips on second and Erstad on first in the eighth inning, Edmonds lined a ball toward the first base hole.

King, the Royal first baseman, made a short-hop, backhand grab, but with both runners holding on the liner, the Royals had time to force Erstad at second and tag out Phillips in a rundown between second and third.

So Edmonds grounded into a double play . . . and reached base.

TONIGHT’S GAME

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY (3-4, 5.19 ERA) vs. ROYALS’ JOSE ROSADO (5-3, 3.06 ERA)

Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo., 11 a.m.

Radio--KTZN (710).

* UPDATE: The Royals set a team record with their 92nd consecutive errorless inning Tuesday night. Chili Davis has been one of the Royals’ hottest hitters of late with 12 RBIs in his last six games. Angel third baseman Dave Hollins and catcher Jim Leyritz, who sat out Tuesday night’s game against right-hander Kevin Appier, will return today against Rosado, a left-hander.