BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Until Help Arrives, Leiter Might Close

The Angels haven’t had much need for one the last two days, but they still are trying to work a trade for an established closer. Meanwhile, Manager Marcel Lachemann has indicated that Mark Leiter probably will get a chance to fill the role.

“I think his personality suits the role well,” Lachemann said. “He’s the type of pitcher who responds to the urgency of the situation.”

Leiter, who has made seven starts this season, has a 1.59 earned-run average in his last six relief appearances. Is he looking forward to the opportunity?

“Yeah, but we better hurry and get me some chances before we trade for one of those guys I’ve been reading about,” he said, smiling. “Let’s hope we get in a lot of one-run games between now and (the trading deadline) Sunday so I can change their minds.”

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Outfielder Garret Anderson arrived Wednesday from Vancouver, took batting practice and then went into the training room for treatment on his sore left shoulder.

“It’s nothing, just a little soreness,” he said. “I’m sure it’s nothing serious. It’s just fatigued from throwing.”

The shoulder seemed fine when he got to the plate in Wednesday’s game. Anderson, who was batting .346 with 10 homers and 82 runs batted in at triple-A Vancouver, was in the No. 3 spot in the lineup. He lined out to right in his major league debut in the first inning, but singled to right in the third and fifth innings.

“The two hits I got weren’t hit that hard,” Anderson said, “but I’m happy with what I got. It’s nice to get it out of way.”

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Left-hander Chuck Finley, on how frustrating a strike would be for the struggling Angels: “You’re out of work and it’s like, ‘Wait a minute, I was going to try working on this.’ Now you have to do it over at Yorba Linda High some place.” Some place other than Yorba Linda High, Chuck. There isn’t one. . . . Jeff Schwarz, acquired from the White Sox on Saturday, made his debut as an Angel on Wednesday, giving up one hit and one run in two innings.