DeCinces Steals Show With a Home Run : His Two-Run Shot in 9th Gives Angels 5-4 Win

There was Rod Carew’s pursuit of 3,000 hits, the Angel debuts of Al Holland and George Hendrick and the first start by Geoff Zahn since April 26.

There was also the initial appearance of Bert Blyleven in his return to the Minnesota Twins, which seemed to be the most dominant of Saturday night’s many stories.

It was, at least, until Doug DeCinces belted a one-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning, lifting the Angels to a 5-4 victory over Blyleven and the Twins before an appreciative crowd of 40,290 at Anaheim Stadium.

Having defeated the Angels with a three-hitter, 2-0, and with a four-hitter, 2-1, while with the Cleveland Indians earlier this year, Blyleven was en route to another three-hit victory when Brian Downing, who has had a series of big hits recently, drilled a double to right-center, providing DeCinces with a shot at his seventh game-winning hit.

The third baseman responded on a 2-and-1 fastball, reaching the left-center field bleachers with his 13th home run, giving the Angels their sixth straight win over the Twins and a 23-8 record in games decided by one run.

They are also three games ahead of Kansas City and five up on Oakland in the American League West.

The memory of six losses in the previous eight games seemed to evaporate amid the euphoria of the DeCinces’ home run.

Said Holland, who arrived early Saturday after being obtained in Friday’s six-player trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates: “I haven’t been on a team this year that’s won a game like that. I can get used to that real fast, man.”

Manager Gene Mauch said it’s now habit.

“This team knows how to play the late innings,” he said. “They’ve exhibited that many times. We only got five hits tonight, but a couple of them were beauties.”

One was a two-run homer by Ruppert Jones that gave him a club-leading 18 and helped get the Angels a temporary tie at 3-3 in the fourth. Another was a Carew single, igniting that fourth-inning comeback from a 3-0 deficit.

It also left Carew just one shy of becoming the 16th player to get 3,000 hits, tying him for 15th place with the late Roberto Clemente.

The 2,999th was a flare to left. Carew came close to two others. He hit a drive to deep center in the first. Kirby Puckett turned the wrong way in pursuit, but eventually made a twisting catch. Then, following the hit in the fourth, Carew lifted a similar flare in the sixth. Shortstop Ron Washington retreated with his back to the plate and made a difficult catch in shallow left. Carew was up again with two outs in the eighth but flied to center, disappointing a crowd that was on its feet, cheering for No. 3,000.

“I’m just glad I’m one closer,” Carew said after the game. “I’ll be even happier when this is all over.”

Carew will get another chance today, even though it’s a day game following a night game and a left-hander will be starting for Minnesota.

Said Mauch: “Rodney hits Frank Viola as well as anyone we have.”

Said Carew: “Gene told me before the game that I’d be playing tomorrow, and that even if I got the hits tonight I should drink only Perrier, that I shouldn’t go out and celebrate too hard. I’m glad I’ll be playing. My first hit in the big leagues was off Dave McNally, another tough left-hander.”

Today will be special for another reason as well. John Candelaria, the pivotal figure in the trade with Pittsburgh, will start for the Angels.

Two of his Pirate teammates beat him into an American League box score. Hendrick grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth. Holland pitched 1 scoreless innings in relief of Zahn’s successor, Luis Sanchez, who left with a runner at second and one out in the seventh.

Holland then walked Kent Hrbek before striking out Tom Brunansky and Dave Engle. He pitched a flawless eighth, though Gary Gaetti and Tim Teufel hit drives to the warning track. Stewart Cliburn pitched a perfect ninth and emerged with his fifth win in seven decisions.

Angel Notes

The Angels made room for the return of Geoff Zahn and the arrival of John Candelaria, Al Holland and George Hendrick by returning pitcher Urbano Lugo and outfielder Rufino Linares to Edmonton. Linares was 2 for 9, both hits home runs. Lugo was 3-4, having once been 3-1. Manager Gene Mauch said Lugo needed to make some basic refinements, polishing a curveball to complement his fastball and forkball, which, Mauch said, “are definitely big league.” . . . Mauch added: “I appreciate all that the kids did for us--Lugo, Linares, (Mike) Brown and (Pat) Clements. It may not seem that way right now, but I really do. We needed every contribution they made.” . . . Holland on his weight: “It’s been played up too much. I mean, they were writing in Philadelphia that I weigh 240, 242. I weigh 214, the same as I did in 1983. That’s all I want to say about it.”