Rangers Waiting for Offensive Break

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) _ The thumpers in the Texas Rangers lineup know they'll eventually pile up big numbers. The question is, when? <br><br>Texas didn't get a chance Sunday as its game against

Monday, April 8th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) _ The thumpers in the Texas Rangers lineup know they'll eventually pile up big numbers. The question is, when?

Texas didn't get a chance Sunday as its game against Anaheim was rained out. With the Rangers off Monday, they have plenty of time to think about a 1-5 start _ the team's worst since 1987 _ that can be blamed more on meek hitting than weak pitching.

Alex Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmeiro, Ivan Rodriguez and Carl Everett are a combined 27-for-130 (.208) with four homers, 13 RBIs and 16 runs. As a team, the Rangers are hitting .225 with 22 runs.

``Our guys know that at some point we're going to put it together,'' manager Jerry Narron said. ``A lot of clubs have had slow starts and put it together. We think we will.''

The big breakthrough almost came in the ultimate fashion Saturday night: Bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded and Alex Rodriguez at the plate. He drove the ball to left field and was so sure it was gone that he started celebrating as soon as he left the batter's box.

But wind from the same storm that lingered Sunday got hold of Rodriguez's high fly and dropped it into deep left field, where Garret Anderson was waiting for the final out in a 6-3 victory.

``That's as good as I can hit a ball,'' Rodriguez said Sunday. ``Some of the guys in the bullpen said it went over the fence and actually came back in. But those are the breaks. It would've been a great game-winning home run. The way things have been going, it turned out to be a loss.''

Rodriguez had been 1-for-18 before going 2-for-5 Saturday night, including a first-inning homer.

``I knew I wasn't going to go the whole season without hitting a home run,'' he said.

While there's plenty of time to reach or surpass last year's numbers (.275 with a majors-best 246 homers), Texas better get clicking soon if it's going to relinquish the grip on last place in the AL West that it's held the last two seasons.

``A lot of people think we're already eliminated,'' Ivan Rodriguez said. ``We know we're a good team. Right now we don't hit like it, but we're going to be OK.''

The Angels were hoping to keep alive their undefeated road trip. Sure, they were only 2-0, but they had dropped six straight and 13 of 15 on the road to close last season. They return home Monday to play Seattle.

``You can't control Mother Nature,'' outfielder Darin Erstad said. ``We just need to continue playing the way we're capable of.''