BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Felix Bats Fourth in Order, Brooks Fifth

In an effort to prod the Angel offense, interim Manager John Wathan moved Junior Felix into the cleanup spot in the lineup and dropped Hubie Brooks to fifth.

That represented the first time Brooks has hit anywhere but fourth in the starting lineup and Felix’s first time in the cleanup spot this season. Luis Sojo, who had five RBIs in the two previous games, batted second.

Several factors persuaded Wathan to make the switch: Angel cleanup hitters were batting .198 entering Tuesday’s game and Brooks was in a two-for-35 slump that reduced his batting average to .206. Felix, by contrast, was batting .290 with a team-leading 34 RBIs.

“He’s an RBI producer, that’s for sure,� Wathan said of Felix. “Having him hit cleanup might take a little pressure off Hubie. He’s been trying to do too much. We sat him a couple of days and now we’ll try this. We’re just looking for the right combinations. . . . I don’t know that we have a true cleanup hitter, anyway.�

Brooks, who said he can’t remember enduring so lengthy a slump, said he is not inclined to make dramatic changes in his stance or swing while he is struggling. He has been taking extra batting practice, but does that when he’s hot, too.

“You make small changes, but nothing dramatic, nothing that’s uncomfortable,� said Brooks, who peaked at .281 on May 3. “I just try to stay the way I am and make things work. . . . Hitting fifth or fourth doesn’t make any difference. I’ve never been one to worry about pressure on myself.�

Bryan Harvey (sore right elbow) threw off the mound without discomfort. However, he is not allowed to try throwing his forkball until Friday. He initially noticed the soreness when throwing his forkball. . . . Bobby Rose refused to finish his rehabilitation stint with triple-A Edmonton, preferring instead to remain with Class-A Palm Springs. Rose, who suffered a sprained right ankle in the team’s May 21 bus accident, was batting .405 (15 for 37) with six RBIs in 19 games for Palm Springs. . . . Ron Tingley, who caught Bert Blyleven’s previous three starts, kept his streak intact by catching Tuesday. . . . Pete Janicki, the UCLA pitcher selected by the Angels during the first round of the amateur draft, will have his sore elbow examined later this week by team orthopedist Lewis Yocum.