Angels Lose; Talk to Rogers Today

Knuckled under by Phil Niekro and the Yankees Wednesday night, the Angels will now knuckle down to the task of finding pitching help.

The first move may come this afternoon when General Manager Mike Port and Manager Gene Mauch meet with ex-Montreal right-hander Steve Rogers amid speculation that Rogers will sign with the Angels.

Rogers signing, Port said Wednesday, would not end trade talks that are known to center on Cleveland’s Bert Blyleven and Pittsburgh’s John Candelaria, among others.

The lingering injuries of Ken Forsch and Geoff Zahn, the inconsistency of Kirk McCaskill (0-3), Mike Witt (2-5) and Jim Slaton (1-3 in May after a 3-0 April) and the fact that Ron Romanick is the only starter to have a win in the last eight games has lent urgency to the pitching pursuit.

Slaton allowed six hits and six runs in 3 innings as the Yankees pummeled the Angels, 7-2, in Wednesday night’s opener of an eight-game trip.

Niekro, who yielded only two hits in 7 innings of a 6-0 win over the Angels in Anaheim May 17, permitted only two hits in eight shutout innings of this one, his 290th career victory and sixth against three 1985 defeats.

“What the hell,” Mauch said with a trace of sarcasm, “in both games Niekro pitched we got a pair of hits whether we needed them or not.

“He’s one of those special people, but it’s not much fun watching him.”

The 46-year-old knuckleballer permitted third inning singles by Rob Wilfong and Bob Boone. He otherwise walked five and struck out five before his shoulder stiffened.

The Angels--now tied with Kansas City for the American League West lead--finally scored off Rich Bordi in the ninth on an error, a double by Mike Brown and a single by Wilfong.

The team batting average, already lowest in the league, dropped to .239. There is reason to think that may improve when Gary Pettis, who returned to the lineup after missing eight games with a groin pull, Reggie Jackson, who has failed to start the last seven because of a hamstring strain, and Doug DeCinces and Rod Carew, both on the disabled list, are all 100%.

The key to improved pitching, however, does not seem to be in the trainers room, though Mauch refused to emphasize the apparent need for help.

“It would be nice to have somebody come in,” he said, “but whatever we’ve done we’ve done with this group, and if we keep it up I guess we’ll end up in a tie.

“I mean, if there’s a .380 hitter out there get him in here. If there’s someone out there who can pitch 200 innings with an earned run average of two, get him in here. The point is that I still like our team the way it is, that’s all.”

Rogers, 35, was 156-148 with a 3.14 ERA in 12 years with the Expos. He was 6-15 with a 4.31 ERA last year and 2-3 with a 4.86 before his recent release. He cleared waivers Tuesday and can be signed for $30,000, the prorated remainder of the $40,000 minimum salary.

The Expos would be responsible for the prorated remainder of his 1985 salary of $900,000.

Port said several factors made him believe that the one time Montreal ace could regain a groove.

He cited: 1) the fact that Rogers had some of his best years when Mauch was managing the Expos and developed in the Montreal minor league system under Marcel Lachemann, now the Angels pitching coach, and, 2) he would benefit by the handling of Bob Boone and the switch to a league in which breaking ball pitchers thrive.

Mauch, who has already talked twice to Rogers by telephone, said he knew Rogers well and expected the pitcher to level with him about his current ability.

Nevertheless, Mauch said, he wanted to see Rogers throw on the sidelines.

“I’m not going to sign him just because he’s Steve Rogers,” Mauch said. “I hope I like what I see.

“If his stuff has any semblance to what it was when I last saw him, I’ll be very excited if he wants to hook on with us.”

Wednesday night, Mauch was excited only by the calls of plate umpire Vic Voltaggio. Catcher Boone was more so and drew a fourth-inning ejection, the first in his 14-year major league career.

“Slaton didn’t go strike one often enough,” Mauch said, “and when he did, the umpire didn’t give it to him. I’m tired of complaining about umpires, but it’s tough to pitch when you’re always behind on the count.”

Slaton, who has allowed 17 earned runs in the 26 innings of his last five starts, concurred.

“I didn’t know where to throw it,” he said. “I didn’t know what he’d call a strike. I don’t feel that I’m throwing much differently than I did in April, but things aren’t going my way right now. Pitchers go through slumps like hitters. You have to ride through it and hope it turns around.”

A two-run homer by Mike Pagliarulo, the third baseman’s second of the year, gave New York a 6-0 lead and led to Slaton’s departure in the fourth. Omar Moreno, who had contributed an RBI double in a three run second, hammered the first pitch thrown by successor Urbano Lugo for another homer, his first.

Lugo, whose name has been mentioned in the trade talks involving Blyleven, had not pitched since May 8. He shook off the homer and shut out the Yankees over the final 4 innings.

Angel Notes Angels General Manager Mike Port will lunch with David Pinter, the agent for relief pitcher Donnie Moore, here today. It’s the first step in an attempt to work out a multiyear contract for Moore, who is eligible for free agency when the season ends . . . The Yankees have the league’s best home record (12-4) and are undefeated at Yankee Stadium in eight games under Billy Martin . . . Ken Forsch has been tentatively scheduled for arthroscopic surgery on his ailing left elbow next week. Forsch will have one more consultation with Dr. Lewis Yocum before reaching a definite decision. The surgery would sideline him another three to six weeks . . . Geoff Zahn, still unable to throw because of tendinitis in his left shoulder, will try one more week of cortisone and rest before considering arthroscopic surgery . . . Luis Sanchez, placed on the disabled list with a neck strain April 24, has been sent to Edmonton on 20-day rehabilitation assignment . . . Doug DeCinces, eligible to come off the disabled list today, tested his ailing back by running and throwing in the outfield before the game and said, “I’d like to think I’ll be ready to play by the weekend.”