Angel Offense Is Still Stagnant in 5-2 Loss to White Sox

CHICAGO — There has been a flurry of activity off the field for the Angels this week, but little activity around home plate.

An offense weakened by the loss of Jim Edmonds and Tony Phillips struggled again Wednesday night in a 5-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox before 21,237 in Comiskey Park.

The Angels, who fell a half-game behind Seattle in the American League West, have lost six of their last eight games, and they’ve failed to reach double figures in hits in 11 consecutive games.

“With Tony and Jim out, that’s a lot of production,” said pitcher Allen Watson, who gave up back-to-back home runs to Mike Cameron (three-run) and Frank Thomas in the fifth inning. “That’s maybe three or four runs a game. We need them back.”

Phillips, arrested Sunday on felony charges for possession of cocaine, won’t be back until Friday at the earliest, and Edmonds, on the disabled list because of a lower-back strain, might return this weekend.

But immediate help is on the way. The Angels, who acquired pitcher Ken Hill on July 29, traded for San Diego’s Rickey Henderson on Wednesday, and the speedy veteran is expected to lead off and play left field for the Angels today in Milwaukee.

“My hat goes off to management,” Angel shortstop Gary DiSarcina said. “They’re doing their job, getting guys with experience. Rickey has been through the August and September wars, and he’s a great player.

“Sometimes Disney gets a bad rap for the way they run their hockey team, but they want to win just as bad as [General Manager] Bill Bavasi and just as bad as us.”

The Angels seemed poised for a victory Wednesday. Todd Greene had doubled home two runs in the third, and Watson (10-7) had given up one hit through four innings.

But Watson walked No. 9 batter Tony Pena, who is batting .164, with two out in the fifth, Norberto Martin singled, and Cameron and Thomas each homered to make the score 4-2.

Chicago’s run in the eighth, off Mike James, also came after the first two batters had been retired.

“Allen fell behind Pena, and after he walked him it caused a mental letdown more than anything else,” Manager Terry Collins said.

“You look up, and they scored all five of their runs with two outs and no one on . . . we’ve got to turn this around, get our lineup back on the field and start pushing some runs across the plate.”