Spring Training / Angels : LaCorte Comes Up With Sore Shoulder

Ken Forsch was feeling better Monday about the elbow problem that forced him out of Sunday’s start against San Diego, but now it’s Frank LaCorte’s shoulder that’s become a pain.

LaCorte, bidding to impress either the Angels or another team after his disappointing performance--he was 1-2 with a 7.06 ERA--of 1984, was scheduled to pitch in an exhibition game against Oakland Monday but scratched because of tightness behind his shoulder.

A discouraged LaCorte said he simply could not throw. The condition will be reassessed today.

Forsch, who went only one inning Sunday before a recurring elbow twinge prompted his departure for precautionary reasons, said the condition seemed improved but that he will probably miss a start Thursday against Seattle.

“It was sore this morning,” Forsch said, “but nothing I haven’t experienced before. The more I moved around, the better it felt. I was going to pitch again Thursday, but I’ll probably skip that and throw Monday.”

The Angels assaulted four Oakland pitchers for 19 hits in a 14-5 victory Monday.

Reggie Jackson drove in four runs with a two-run single off Mike Warren and a two-run homer off left-hander Tim Birtsis. Ruppert Jones drove in three runs with a triple and two singles.

Warren, a Fullerton High product who started for the A’s, yielded 10 runs and 12 hits in three innings. He also raised Manager Jackie Moore’s ire by failing to cover first base on a pivotal play in the Angels’ seven-run second inning.

Bob Kipper, the 20-year-old left-hander who was 18-8 at Class A Redwood last year and is now trying to unseat Tommy John as the Angels’ No. 5 starter, pitched three scoreless innings to give him a string of six straight.

John, who missed a Sunday assignment against San Diego because of a lower back strain, will work in a “B” game against the Chicago Cubs today.

Angel Notes

Catcher Bob Boone returned to action after resting a groin pull for three days. . . . Mike Witt gave up six hits and three runs in four innings of a 4-2 “B” game loss to the A’s. . . . Telecaster Bob Starr is resting at his Anaheim Hills home after spending four days in Western Medical Center with a staph infection in his throat. . . . Doug Corbett’s 15-month-old son, Jason, has been hospitalized here with a virus and is being treated for dehydration. . . . Versatile Derrel Thomas, who was not selected in the free-agent re-entry draft and has yet to land a job, is here with attorney Tom Reich exploring Cactus League possibilities before heading to Florida. Said Thomas: “This is getting very expensive and very frustrating.”