Schofield, Pettis Give Angels a Lift

Gary Pettis hit .227 as a rookie. Dick Schofield hit .193.

Other than their exceptional glove work, the most significant aspect of their 1984 debuts was the fact that neither would face a sophomore jinx.

Now, through 18 games of that sophomore season, the lessons of spring and winter seem to be taking.

They have seemed to become the babes in arms, supplying a firepower viewed as essential if the grizzled Angels are to remain a contender in the American League West.

Both played pivotal roles again Saturday night as the Angels made it three straight wins over the hapless Mariners, who are marooned in a slump that has produced 7 straight losses and 11 in the last 12 games.

Schofield took over the club lead in homers by slugging his fourth. Pettis doubled twice, walked and scored three runs.

The Angels ultimately made economical use of nine hits in a 6-1 victory that also featured:

--The pitching of Jim Slaton, who improved his record to 3-0 by allowing just seven hits en route to his first complete game of the year.

--The hitting of Brian Downing, who took over the club lead in RBIs at 14 as he laced an RBI single off loser Mike Young in the third and a three-run homer off Edwin Nunez in the seventh.

The homer, Downing’s first, broke it open. The Angels led only 3-1 when Nunez replaced Dave Geisel with one out and two on in the seventh. His first pitch was rammed into the left-field seats, about 10 feet inside the foul pole.

The Mariners have been outscored, 87-34, in the last 12 games. This is a team waiting to lose, wondering what can happen next.

“I’m not going to say it’s not going to get any worse,” second baseman Jack Perconte said before the latest loss, “because I’ve been saying that and saying that, and it keeps getting worse.”

It got worse in a hurry Saturday night as the Angels scored solo runs in the first, third and fourth innings.

Then, after retiring Pettis on a ground ball to open the fifth, ex-UCLA left-hander Young removed himself from the game because of a sore elbow.

A cursory clubhouse examination failed to reveal a serious problem, but Young, who is 1-3, will be examined again today.

Pettis and Schofield, meanwhile, continue to pass their sophomore exams.

Pettis opened this game with a double, took third on a bunt single by Carew and scored when Downing grounded into a double play.

He scored again in the third when he walked, moved to second on a Carew sacrifice and raced in on the Downing single.

Pettis then doubled off the right-field wall in the seventh and eventually scored on Downing’s home run.

Through 18 games, the leadoff man is hitting .305 compared to .207 through 18 games of his rookie season. He is becoming the offensive catalyst the Angels envisioned when they twice sent him to former National League batting king Harry Walker last winter to learn the rudiments of contact hitting so that he could make better use of his speed.

Pettis has played in 10 of the Angels’ 11 wins, hitting .404 with 14 runs scored and 8 stolen bases. In the seven losses, he is hitting .136 (3 for 22) with four runs scored and no steals.

Schofield is hitting .246 compared to .242 a year ago, which was about his high. The four homers equal his total of last year. His 11 RBIs are only 10 shy of his rookie total and represent a figure he did not reach until June.

The Angels sent Schofield to the Arizona Instructional League last winter in an attempt to have him make better use of the entire field. He is now trying to hit the fastball to right field, a stroke that will allow him to pull breaking and off-speed pitches.

He jumped on a curve thrown by Young in the fourth and hit it deep into the left-field seats.

“Dick Schofield is going to be an outstanding player and you can put that in your notebooks,” Manager Gene Mauch reiterated.

Mauch said Schofield will eventually hit 20 homers a year, but he doesn’t want to rush that.

“He’s hitting balls out that should be hit out,” the manager said, “but he isn’t going up there and just wailing anymore. He’s practicing what we’ve been preaching. He’s a talented young man who’s now using that talent the way it should be used.”

Slaton’s continued effectiveness was balm for the Angels, now concerned about the lingering tendinitis condition in Geoff Zahn’s shoulder. It was originally thought that Ken Forsch’s return from the disabled list would sent Slaton back to long relief, but Forsch will now replace Zahn, leaving Slaton to continue as a starter, which is his preference.

Slaton walked one Saturday night, struck out three and was scored on only in the third when Domingo Ramos singled and Phil Bradley doubled.

Of Slaton’s impact on the Angels’ 11-7 record and 1 1/2-game lead in the West, Mauch said: “If we’re going to accomplish what we want, everyone is going to have to do what they can do. I mean everyone.”

Angel Notes

Angel Manager Gene Mauch said Saturday that Ken Forsch will definitely come off the disabled list in time to start against Toronto at Anaheim Stadium Wednesday night. This will be Forsch’s first league start since suffering a dislocated shoulder in a game against Toronto April 7, 1984. . . . Geoff Zahn had been scheduled to start Wednesday night but will be bypassed because of the recurring tendinitis that forced him to leave Friday night’s game after two innings. Mauch said it is likely Zahn will go on the 15-day disabled list, but that the club has until Wednesday to make it retroactive to the last time Zahn pitched. “The reason for waiting five days before disabling Geoff is to see if something miraculous happens and he can pitch,” Mauch said. “I’m not counting on it, but who knows?” . . . Zahn said Saturday that his shoulder was still sore. “I don’t know how long it will take (before it’s 100% again),” he said, “but I’m not going to pitch with it the way it is.” . . . Darrell Miller took batting practice for the first time since suffering a slight rib separation Wednesday. He expects to be available for defensive use today. . . . The official scorer here reversed his original decision and rewarded Stu Cliburn with his first big league save for his four-inning, two-run effort Friday night. It was the first save for an Angel rookie since Angel Moreno had one in 1982. . . . Seattle catcher Bob Kearney, who has not had a hit since opening day and is hitless in his last 31 at-bats, was benched in favor of Donnie Scott Saturday night. . . . Tommy John (0-1), having recovered from the neck strain that forced him to miss his last start, will face Salome Barojas (0-1) in today’s series finale.