Collins Comes to Players’ Defense

A little amnesia can go a long way, especially when you’ve been struggling defensively like Angel first baseman Darin Erstad and third baseman Dave Hollins, who combined for 10 errors in 11 games before Friday night.

“Darin said that everything has been going fine all year and all of a sudden he’s hit this rut,” Manager Terry Collins said. “I told him, so what? I bet you Brooks Robinson made a few errors down the stretch. I’m sure [Padre third baseman] Ken Caminiti made some errors last year.

“The point is, you have to forget them. You can’t stop doing something because you’ve made a few errors. You have to stay aggressive and realize mistakes are going to happen. The minute you start thinking about mistakes, they’re going to happen.”

Erstad, a converted outfielder who had never played first base regularly until this season, committed only six errors in his first 111 games before his recent spate of miscues. Hollins, who did not play Friday because of a bruised hand, has 25 errors.

“We didn’t get Hollins because he’s a Gold Glover,” Collins said. “We got him because he’s intense, and he plays the game hard. He brings a lot to the party. I bet he’s saved us more runs than he’s allowed, and if you ask our infielders, they’ll tell you Erstad has saved a heck of a lot of runs.”

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A bruised left hand has made it difficult for Hollins to swing from the left side, so Collins rested him against Padre right-hander Pete Smith on Friday night and started Luis Alicea at third base. An X-ray and a CT scan on Hollins’ hand were normal, but he may sit out another game or two. . . . Mark Gubicza made a rehabilitation start for Class-A Lake Elsinore on Friday night, giving up three runs on five hits, walking one and striking out one in two innings against San Bernardino. . . . Mark Langston and reliever Rich DeLucia will throw simulated games Monday, and Langston could return to the rotation for next weekend’s series in Detroit. . . . Center fielder Jim Edmonds, who batted sixth or seventh in 10 of the previous 12 games, was moved to the No. 2 spot Friday, much to his surprise. “What, did a bomb explode at the top of the lineup?” Edmonds said. “I hit poorly in the seventh spot and get moved to second. . . . Hey, the last time I hit after [Tony] Phillips [in 1995] I knocked in 120 runs.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--San Francisco Giants, two games.

* Site--3Com Park, San Francisco.

* Today--1 p.m.

* TV--Channel 9 Sunday.

* Radio--KTZN (710).

* Records--Angels 73-62, Giants 74-61.

* Record vs. Giants--0-2.

TODAY

ANGELS’

DENNIS SPRINGER

(8-6, 5.04 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’

SHAWN ESTES

(17-4, 3.08 ERA)

* Update--With two standout left-handers pitching against the Angels, Collins said he will start right-handed batting Rickey Henderson in the outfield in both games, spelling Garret Anderson one day and Edmonds the other. Henderson, the team’s designated hitter, did not start in either game in San Diego. Interleague play provides a rare opportunity for the Angels and Dodgers to root for each other this weekend--the Dodgers are playing Seattle, which is trying to hold off the Angels in the American League West, and the Angels play the Giants, who are trying to catch the Dodgers in the National League West. “I’ve always been a Dodger fan,” Collins said, “but now I’m a real big Dodger fan.” Giant first baseman J.T. Snow, the former Angel, was batting .294 with 22 homers and 84 RBIs going into Friday night’s game but is struggling from the right side with a .202 average.

* Sunday, 1 p.m.--Darrell May (1-1, 4.29) vs. Wilson Alvarez (3-1, 4.85).