BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Phillies Get Springer to Complete Deal

The Angels completed their trade for outfielder Dave Gallagher by sending inconsistent, underachieving right-hander Russ Springer to Philadelphia. Last Wednesday, the Angels acquired Gallagher for Kevin Flora, a minor-league utility player, and a player to be named.

Springer, in two stints with the Angels this season, was 1-2 in 19 appearances, including six starts. He had a 6.10 earned-run average in 51 2/3 innings. He also was 2-0 with a 3.44 ERA in six starts at triple-A Vancouver.

Springer, J.T. Snow and pitcher Jerry Nielsen came to the Angels in the Dec. 6, 1992, trade that sent Jim Abbott to the New York Yankees.

Snow eventually lived up to lofty expectations, but Springer never quite could. Nielsen is no longer in the organization, and Abbott is back with the Angels, returning in a trade for four minor leaguers, who were sent to the Chicago White Sox on July 27.

Springer returned to Vancouver to make room for Abbott on the roster.

“It’s not a question of giving up,” Manager Marcel Lachemann said of Springer, who was 4-10 with a 7.07 ERA in 51 career games for the Angels. “[But] sometimes you have to give up something to get something. You can’t get something for nothing.

“I thought he was inconsistent. He showed flashes of what everybody wanted and everybody liked.”

Why was Springer so streaky?

“If I knew for sure, he wouldn’t have been inconsistent,” Lachemann said. “I don’t know if it was me moving him back and forth between the bullpen and starting or what.

“He’s got the tools. I hope it works out for him. He’s a good kid.”

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Rex Hudler jumped for joy, like a football player celebrating a touchdown, when Snow made an over-the-shoulder catch of Frank Thomas’ foul pop in the fifth inning Monday.

“I normally try to contain myself,” said Hudler, who normally fails. “That was a great play. I saw the route he was taking and I saw the path of the ball and I said, ‘Well, nice effort, Jack. We’ll get ‘em later.’

“I was proud of the defensive plays we made last night.”

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The Angels’ average of 6.19 runs per game is the highest since the Boston Red Sox averaged 6.67 runs in 1950. Cleveland led the majors with a 6.01 average last year.