BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Parrish’s Slump Mirrors the Team’s

Lance Parrish’s slump has coincided almost perfectly with the Angels’ slide to last place--too perfectly for Parrish’s comfort.

The Angels were in first place for a day, July 3. Since July 4, Parrish’s average has dipped from .254 to .206. He has only 12 hits in his last 99 at-bats, a .121 average.

“It just makes it more difficult, because I realize that any contribution I might make could help us win a ballgame,� Parrish said. “It’s very easy to go through something like this when the ballclub is winning. If I’m struggling a little, I still feel like I’m contributing behind the plate. Right now, me going oh-for is not helping. It’s not very comforting to know you’re struggling when the ballclub is struggling.�

Parrish, who turned 35 this season but said he doesn’t think age is a factor in his slump, has struck out at least once in 18 consecutive games, and has only nine runs batted in since July 4. He leads the team in strikeouts with 82 in 84 games.

Luis Polonia returned to the scene of his disastrous game of April 12, when he misplayed two fly balls in a 6-0 Minnesota victory. Polonia misplayed a fly ball Sunday in Anaheim that resulted in a 3-2 loss to Oakland.

“It is nothing on my mind,� Polonia said of his Metrodome errors. “And I like to hit here.�

Floyd Bannister, making his second start for Class-A Palm Springs on Sunday, gave up nine runs--seven earned--in 5 1/3 innings of a 9-2 loss to Bakersfield at Palm Springs.

Wally Joyner’s 10-game hitting streak ended. . . . Dave Winfield’s next home run will be his 400th, but it has been slow coming. Since Aug. 5, when he hit No. 399 against the Twins in Anaheim, he has one hit in 22 at-bats.