White Sox Hurt Angels in More Than One Way

The discomfort in Mike Witt’s right shoulder and Rod Carew’s right knee contributed to the hurt of a 5-2 Angel loss here Tuesday night.

Then there was Harold Baines.

The hot-hitting Chicago right fielder singled in one run in the first inning, then, with his team leading, 2-1, in the seventh, put the Angels away with a three-run homer off Stewart Cliburn.

Britt Burns, an equally hot pitcher, combined with Bob James to scatter nine hits, the Angels scoring only on Brian Downing’s 19th homer in the seventh and on a bloop single by Doug DeCinces after Juan Beniquez doubled in the eighth.

The loss prevented the Angels from taking advantage of the Kansas City Royals’ second straight loss to the Seattle Mariners. The Royals still lead the Angels by two games with 18 to play. The White Sox, who have won 10 of their last 12, are also still alive, trailing Kansas City by 7 1/2 and the Angels by 5 1/2.

The standings may not be of as much concern as Witt’s shoulder, though he dismissed the pain and pitched well enough Tuesday night.

He had won five in a row and 11 of his last 13 decisions, but he emerged from this latest start with a 13-8 record, the Angels having scored nine runs in his eight defeats.

Witt had allowed only four hits and preventable runs in the first and second innings when he walked Rudy Law with two out in the seventh, gave up a bloop single to Bryan Little and was replaced by Cliburn.

The batter was the left-handed-hitting Baines. Manager Gene Mauch had Al Holland available, but he later cited Holland’s inexplicable ineffectiveness against left-handers and the fact that Cliburn had allowed only one hit in his three previous innings against the White Sox.

That hit was a home run by Greg Walker, one of only three Cliburn had permitted in the 88 innings of his 37 appearances. Baines, who has 103 RBIs and is batting .383 over his last 31 games, took the count to 3-and-1 before hitting his 19th home run.

Two-to-one was suddenly 5-1.

Asked later about the decision to replace Witt in that two-on, two-out situation, Mauch said:

“He had pitched that long with about 60% of his best stuff. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a pitcher battle as hard as he did.”

Pitching coach Marcel Lachemann had called Mauch from the bullpen before the game and said Witt wasn’t throwing well, that there was obvious discomfort in his shoulder. Witt convinced Mauch and Lachemann he could go ahead. He later referred to the tendinitis that has resisted treatment and said:

“I know it’s going to be there the rest of the year. I can’t forget it because it hurts, but I’m not concerned. I mean, I’m not just trying to pitch. I feel I’m doing a pretty good job. I feel I’ve got to keep going out there.”

Said Mauch, referring to the start: “Mike wanted it, and we gave it to him. He wasn’t throwing good. He’s wasn’t throwing like Mike Witt, but he could have had a shutout going into the seventh.”

Carew’s injury--a twisted right knee--occurred in the top of the first.

The Angels had runners at first and third with one out when Mauch called for a delayed double steal. DeCinces broke from first as Bobby Grich swung and missed at a third strike. Catcher Carlton Fisk threw to second, where Little cut in front of the bag and returned the ball to Fisk as Carew attempted to score from third.

Carew collided with Fisk, who rolled across Carew’s right knee. The replay showed that Carew was safe, but umpire Dave Phillips ruled otherwise. The more immediate concern for the Angels was Carew’s ability to continue, which he did, though devoid of maneuverability.

It proved costly.

Rudy Law opened the Chicago first by drawing a walk. Then, with Law running, Little hit a low line drive that would have been a double play if caught by Carew, who needed to move to his left for it. He was unable to move, however, and could only get his glove on it, knocking it down for an out at first as Little took second and scored on an ensuing single by Baines.

Then, in the second, leadoff batter Daryl Boston hit a hard grounder to Carew’s right. Carew stretched but again could only get a glove on it. The ball was deflected toward Grich, whose throw to Witt covering the base was late. Witt also failed to catch it, the ball sailing past him for an error that put Boston on second. He later stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly.

“We might have lost it in the first inning when Rod got hurt,” Mauch said. “He normally makes both those plays, and they don’t score.”

It wasn’t until Downing homered, however, that the Angels scored off Burns, who struck out 10 en route to his fifth straight win and 18th against eight defeats. The save by James was his 27th.

“Burns was good,” Mauch said, “I don’t know if I’ve seen a left-hander strike out that many good hitters this year.”

Angel Notes

Rod Carew’s status tonight is uncertain. He said he would take treatment this afternoon, then decide. . . .The Angels’ Don Sutton (14-8) faces Chicago’s Gene Nelson (9-9) tonight.

A.L. WEST RACE AT A GLANCE

W L Pct. GB Kansas City 82 62 .569 -- California 80 64 .556 2 Chicago 74 69 .517 7 1/2

REMAINING GAMES

KANSAS CITY (18)--Home (12): Sept. 18, 19, Seattle; 20, 21, 22, Minnesota; 30, Oct. 1, 2, 3, California; 4, 5, 6, Oakland. Away (6): Sept. 24, 25, 26, Seattle; 27, 28, 29, Minnesota.

CALIFORNIA (18)--Home (6): Sept. 20, 21, 22, Cleveland; 23, 24, 25, Chicago; Away (12): Sept. 18, 19, Chicago; 27, 28, 29, Cleveland; 30, Oct. 1, 2, 3, Kansas City; 4, 5, 6, Texas.

CHICAGO (19)--Home (9): Sept. 18, 19, California; 20, 21, 22, Oakland; Oct. 3, 4, 5, 6, Seattle. Away (10): Sept. 23, 24, 25, California; 26, 27, 28, 29, Oakland; 30, Oct. 1, 2, Minnesota. NOTE: Toronto has an unscheduled home game with Baltimore that will only be played if it is needed to decide the division title and Cincinnati has a game in Chicago that will only be played if it is needed to decide the division title.