Witt Pitches a 5-Hitter and A’s Help as Angels Roll to a 5-0 Victory

The way the Angel pitchers are pitching these days, little help is required from the defense.

After Ron Romanick and Kirk McCaskill had thrown two-hitters within a span of seven days, Mike Witt checked in with a five-hitter in the Angels’ 5-0 win over the Oakland A’s Wednesday night at Anaheim Stadium.

But defense, and the lack of it, contributed mightily to the Angels’ 10th victory of the season, keeping them atop the American League West standings, one game ahead of Texas.

In one inning, there was Angel shortstop Dick Schofield turning in the play of the homestand--sprawling head-first to glove a sharp grounder by Dusty Baker, rolling over on his back and bouncing a three-hop throw to first baseman Wally Joyner that erased Baker by a couple steps.

In another inning, there was Oakland left-fielder Jose Canseco, no phenom in the field, dropping Joyner’s fly ball on the warning track--allowing one run to score and paving the way for two others.

And in yet another inning, there was Oakland second baseman Tony Phillips misplaying one grounder into an error and forgetting the out count on another--handing the Angels a run rather than closing out the threat with a cinch double play.

To all this, Witt, said thank you very much and cashiered the A’s with ease before an Anaheim Stadium crowd of 25,001.

Witt (2-1) had nearly gone a year between shutouts--his last coming last April 25 against Seattle. He had a two-hitter through six innings Wednesday, bidding to give the Angels their third two-hitter in eight games.

Witt eventually settled for a five-hitter, striking out eight while walking one. It was Witt’s first complete game since last Aug. 22.

After totaling five shutouts as a team in 1985, the Angels have produced two in the past seven days. Romanick blanked Seattle, 4-0, last Wednesday.

It was also a substantial improvement from the last time Witt faced the A’s. On April 13 in Oakland, Witt lasted just 4 innings--surrendering eight runs on seven hits.

“Mike was kind of tough on himself the first time he faced them,” Angel Manager Gene Mauch said. “This time, he was tough on them. I enjoyed watching Mike Witt pitch.”

A’s Manager Jackie Moore didn’t. But it was difficult to tell which was the more discouraging sight--Witt on the mound or Oakland in the field.

“The pitcher was outstanding,” Moore said. “I don’t know if he made a mistake all night.”

If he didn’t, the A’s defense surely picked up the slack.

Oakland starter Chris Codiroli (2-2) was hardly sparkling--allowing six hits and hitting a batter in five innings--but he deserved better than to be sabotaged and undermined at every critical turn.

Canseco got things rolling. After Gary Pettis led off the first inning with a double, Joyner lofted a deep, but catchable, fly into left-center field. Crack goes Canseco’s bat, but clank goes his glove. He bobbled the ball, pinned it against his chest with his elbows, staggered . . . and finally lost it, allowing Pettis to score and Joyner to reach second.

After Codiroli issued his only walk, to Doug DeCinces, Ruppert Jones reached second legitimately--with a two-run double to left.

The Angels maintained a 3-0 lead until the sixth, when Brian Downing delivered his fifth home run of the season. That made it 4-0. It became 5-0 when the A’s defense melted down again.

With Jones on second and one out, Schofield sent a ground ball toward second baseman Phillips. Phillips scooped once, scooped twice, and then finally controlled the ball, but by the time his throw reached first baseman Bruce Bochte, Schofield was safe and Jones was on third.

Rob Wilfong followed with a carbon-copy grounder, a cinch double-play ball, but Phillips apparently forgot there was only one out in the inning. He threw to first, not realizing his mistake until Jones had crossed home plate.

Jones, who went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, added 41 points to his batting average, entering the game at .121 and exiting at .162. It isn’t much , but it’s a start.

He also scored a run, bringing his season total to 12. That, sub .200 average and all, leads the Angels.

Angel Notes

Stewart Cliburn received another setback in his bid to return to the Angels. After pitching 3 innings for Edmonton in the Pacific Coast League, Cliburn was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with an inflamed right shoulder. Cliburn had allowed one earned run while striking out five and walking none. He is eligible to come off the disabled list May 2. . . . Bobby Grich’s right thumb is still swollen, but he says he expects to be back in the lineup Saturday. “I can play defense,” he said, “but my swing is not completely regular.” Grich has been taking batting practice with a small sponge tape to his thumb and another attached to the bat handle.

The Angels leave today to begin an 11-game trip which opens Friday night in Minnesota. Pitchers John Candelaria, Gary Lucas and Urbano Lugo will remain in Anaheim, with Lucas and Lugo continuing to work out every other day with team physical therapist Roger Williams. Lugo, recovering from winter elbow surgery, resumed throwing on the sidelines last Friday and his 20-minute stint Tuesday impressed Mauch. “He doesn’t look too far away,” Mauch said. Lugo, who claims to be at “80%” effectiveness, added breaking balls to his regimen after concentrating on fastballs earlier. “I’m throwing more pitches and throwing harder,” he said. “Two more weeks and I should be ready to pitch (in a game).” At that time, Lugo will be sent out for a rehabilitative assignment--although not to Edmonton. “Probably Midland or Palm Springs,” Lugo said.