Angel Offense Does a 9-5 Job on A’s : Just Another Day (Night) at the Office for Jackson, Downing

An Anaheim Stadium crowd of 48,545 witnessed a couple of rarities Saturday night: a grand slam by Dave Collins, the first in his major league career, and a save by Jim Slaton, his first since 1983.

Those fans also got to take in a few familiar sights, such as:

--Reggie Jackson hitting a home run. Jackson’s solo shot in the fourth inning was No. 522 of his career, moving him past Ted Williams and Willie McCovey into eighth place on the all-time list.

--Brian Downing collecting hits as the leadoff man. Picking up where his 15-game hitting streak ended Wednesday, Downing had three more hits and three more RBIs while batting from the top of the Angels’ lineup, a position in which he is batting .373.

--The Angels winning a baseball game at home. With the offense rolling up 11 hits and Mike Witt and Slaton limiting Oakland to seven, the Angels beat the A’s, 9-5, for their ninth straight victory at the Big A, enabling them to maintain a 2 1/2-game first-place lead over the Kansas City Royals in the American League West.

Witt pitched six innings, allowing four runs and six hits, to improve his record to 10-7. Slaton worked the final three, yielding just a bunt single and an unearned run, to earn his first save since Aug. 21, 1983.

That also came against Oakland, but then, Slaton wore the blue-and-gold of the Milwaukee Brewers.

While on the subject of history, about Jackson’s 522nd home run: It was proof that anger, indeed, can be power.

Jackson had struck out swinging in the first inning, leaving two runners stranded. “He was absolutely furious at himself after that first at-bat,” Angel Manager Gene Mauch said. “I’ve never seen him so angry.”

After that, Jackson vented his emotions on the baseball. The products of his next three plate appearances: bases-loaded double, home run, single.

Jackson wound up the night with a 3-for-4 performance, with 4 RBIs, giving him 57 for the season. The home run was his 19th of 1985.

And all because of a first-inning strikeout.

Mauch sensed something of this sort might happen after he watched Jackson return to the dugout following the strikeout. “He said something to the effect that that was the sickest at-bat in history,” Mauch said. “I’m sure Reggie will say something about it.”

Well, not Saturday night. Juan Beniquez replaced Jackson in the eighth inning, and by the time reporters had made their way to the Angel clubhouse after the final out, Jackson had already showered and left.

The Angels put Oakland away early, scoring five runs in the second inning, two in the third inning and two in the fourth. That was more than enough to withstand Collins’ first career grand slam and a three-base error by Jackson that led to another A’s run in the seventh inning.

The Angels’ second inning was highlighted Chris Codiroli’s inability to throw strikes. Because Codiroli (10-10) issued four walks, the Angels were able to score five runs on only two hits.

One was Jackson’s bases-loaded double. The other was an RBI single by Downing.

An inning later, Downing drove in two more runs with a double to left field before adding a single in the seventh inning.

Less than a month ago (July 22), Downing’s batting average was .194. Now, thanks to his hitting streak and his success as a leadoff hitter, Downing has raised that mark to .271.

“It’s been a long way back,” Downing said, “but I don’t intend to think it’s over yet.”

Provided with such unaccustomed luxury as a 7-0 lead after three innings, Witt responded as if he didn’t know what to do with it. Facing the .237-hitting Collins with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, Witt served up an 0-2 pitch that Collins sent over the right-field wall.

This does not often happen to Collins, who has 31 career home runs. With the bases loaded, it had never happened.

Witt waded through two more innings before Mauch brought on Slaton in the top of the seventh.

“Some of Mike’s pitches are like silk. Others are not,” Mauch said of Witt. “I don’t think everything was quite right with Michael tonight.”

Things went better for Slaton, who yielded only a bunt single and an unearned run in three innings.

The run scored in the seventh after Jackson couldn’t track down a fly ball hit by Mike Heath. Racing back for the ball, Jackson reached and then had the ball pop out of his glove for an error.

Heath wound up at third base and came home on Steve Kiefer’s sacrifice fly.

But for the A’s, that wasn’t nearly enough to overcome the damage Jackson had helped cause with his bat a few innings earlier.

Angel Notes

Back problems forced Doug DeCinces out of the game in the bottom of the second inning. DeCinces said he had discomfort in his back while running to first base on a ground-out during the first inning. Jack Howell replaced him. “He went down on all fours on the ramp,” Angel Manager Gene Mauch said of DeCinces. “He said it wasn’t spasms, but he was having back problems all day.” DeCinces was sent home after he left the game, but later phoned Mauch to update his condition. “He said it feels a little achey,” Mauch said, “but if there are no muscular spasms, he should be ready to play tomorrow.” . . . Baseball’s mercenary mascot, the Chicken, paid a visit to Anaheim Stadium Saturday night, bringing with him his usual bag of tricks, antics and slapstick. Before the game, someone asked Mauch how he felt about having to share center stage with someone dressed in the funniest-looking outfit this side of the Houston Astros. “I thought he was real good last year, when I was sitting up there,” said Mauch as he gestured toward the press box, where he observed games last season as the Angels’ director of player personnel. It can be different if you’re actively involved in the game, some have said. The Chicken honed his act in San Diego and eventually drew complaints from the Chargers football team, claiming his sideshow had become too much of a distraction. “He’s an athlete,” Mauch said. “(But) it’s like ice cream. You eat a gallon of it and you can get sick.” . . . Saturday’s game was the second in a 12-game homestand for the Angels, the team’s longest of the season. It comes following an exhaustive stint during which the Angels played 23 of 27 games on the road. Mauch: “I was saying to the coaches after the second night (Tuesday) in Seattle, ‘It seems to me, as the years go by, that we used to play at home once in a while.’ ” . . . Former Angel Tommy John (3-5) returns to Anaheim Stadium in an Oakland uniform today to oppose Ron Romanick (13-6) in a 1 p.m. game.