Sutton Denied Again in Milwaukee : Angels Dispute Homer by Brewers After Losing Game, 5-4

In the parlance of golf, a language with which he is well acquainted, Don Sutton is faced with a chip shot. He has blasted off the tee, driven the fairway and approached the green in his bid for 300 career victories. The work has been done. The pin is there for the taking.

But ever since he logged win No. 295 last Sept. 18, Sutton’s quest for another victory has been mired in one massive sandtrap.

Eight times he has sought No. 296. Eight times he has flailed away, not gaining a single inch of ground.

And the latest wasted opportunity, Friday night’s 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers before 9,476 fans at County Stadium, may have been the most frustrating yet for Sutton, who dropped to 0-3 in 1986.

Consider the final batter Sutton faced.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning and the Angels trailing, 3-2, the Brewers’ Charlie Moore sent a Sutton offering toward the left-field fence. The outfield fences at County Stadium are 10 feet high, but only the first eight feet are padded. The final two--the critical two, in this instance--are a metal mesh, topped by a yellow railing. Behind this railing is another fence, designed to keep souvenir-hunting fans from interfering with outfield play.

Moore’s ball bounced off something and caromed back onto the field. The Angels said it hit the metal mesh--an extra-base hit but still in the park. Third base umpire Dale Ford said it struck either the second fence or one of the seats behind it.

He signaled a home run.

Arguments from the Angels ensued, but the ruling stood. Moore was credited with his first home run since 1984, the Brewers’ lead was 4-2, and Sutton would spin wheels again in his quest of No. 296.

Reliever T.R. Bryden came in to yield another run. That was enough for Milwaukee, which survived a two-run Angel rally in the ninth inning to even its record at 10-10.

Sutton prides himself on mastering his emotions, maintaining an even keel through good times and bad, but this one seemed to affect him. By the final out, he was fully dressed, pacing the trainer’s room in silence. After several minutes, he hurried out of the clubhouse before reporters could catch up to him.

Reggie Jackson, who knows something about chasing history, said he knows what Sutton is going through.

“All the talk--300 . . . 300. It consumes you,” Jackson said. “Every time a writer asks you a question, it’s not, ‘How’s your family?’ It’s, ‘When are you going to win 300?’

“If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. He’ll get it, because he’s tough. But there have been ten-thousands of guys who have pitched in the major leagues, and only 17 or 18 have won 300. It isn’t easy.”

Sutton was done in by three infield singles in the first inning, Paul Molitor’s RBI triple and Earnest Riles’ sacrifice fly in the fifth, and the controversial home run by Moore.

Left fielder Brian Downing, who had taken one extra-base hit away from Moore at the wall in the second inning, barely missed this one. Whatever the call, it sent the ball bounding back onto the field. Downing chased it down as if the ball were still in play, only to see Ford calling it a home run.

“I saw the guy jogging into second and thought, ‘What’s going on? He should be going for three,’ ” Downing said. “I didn’t see where it hit, but I heard it hit the screen.

“That’s why I took off after the ball. No way it went out of the park.”

Said Ford: “It hit beyond the railing and bounced back. I had the best shot, the best angle I could get. I’ve seen it happen a hundred times and you’ll get an argument either way you call it.

“Their left fielder didn’t argue. He said he didn’t know where it hit. He knows it was a tough call.”

Downing said he didn’t argue because he never actually saw the point of impact.

“The ball was hit over my head, and I was trying to catch up with it,” Downing said. “I looked up, and there was a bank of lights. It blinded me. I didn’t see much.”

Gary Pettis, racing over from center field, had a better view. Mauch consulted him before protesting the call to Ford.

“Gary said it hit the screen above the padding,” Mauch said. “I don’t care if there’s a yellow line, a top railing or a yellow pole, it’s got to carry over the fence. If it’s not in the seats, it’s not a home run.”

Angel Notes Don Sutton pitched 6 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. The first run bordered on exasperating--a single to deep shortstop by Paul Molitor, a single by Earnest Riles that skipped under the glove of on-rushing Wally Joyner and a bunt single by Robin Yount that scored Molitor. Yount’s bunt rolled along the third-base line, and Doug DeCinces hovered, waiting for it to cross the foul line. The ball instead died in fair territory, and the Brewers had their first run.