McCaskill’s Two-Hitter Is Too Much for Orioles

His teammates call Kirk McCaskill “Captain,” as in Captain Kirk, and Saturday night, McCaskill was attempting to go where no Angel this season had gone before.

Through eight innings against the Baltimore Orioles, McCaskill was in possession of a one-hitter--the lone hit coming on an infield roller by Alan Wiggins that second baseman Rob Wilfong tried to barehand but couldn’t.

Because of that scratch single, McCaskill wouldn’t be making any national news. But he was attempting to turn the Angels’ 2-0 victory before an Anaheim Stadium crowd of 35,729 into the franchise’s first one-hitter since Bruce Kison flirted with history against the Minnesota Twins on April 23, 1980. He was also attempting to turn in the lowest-hit effort by an Angel pitcher since Mike Witt was perfect on that final afternoon of the 1984 season.

But for McCaskill, history can wait. His one-hit bid, and all the inevitable what-if questions that were sure to follow, were wiped out by pinch-hitter Jim Dwyer’s line-drive double to right field that opened the ninth inning.

It was a clean hit.

And somehow, that made it easier to accept for McCaskill.

“I realized that was the only hit,” McCaskill said of Wiggins’ leadoff single. “You’re thinking, ‘What if that’s the only hit? That would’ve been a shame.’ ”

Dwyer removed all doubt, forcing McCaskill to settle for a two-hitter. It was the 25-year-old right-hander’s second two-hitter of the season and the Angels’ third. Ron Romanick had the other.

McCaskill’s first two-hit performance, a 5-1 victory over the Oakland A’s April 22, included a career-high 12 strikeouts. McCaskill struck out just five Orioles Saturday night.

Yet, he claimed that this one surpassed all previous efforts--in the majors, the minors, college, high school. Anywhere.

“That was the best I’ve ever thrown in my life,” said McCaskill (4-3). “Bar none. Tonight, I felt in total control. The feeling I had out there, I wish it could’ve lasted all night.

“This one was fun to pitch. It was sad to see it end.”

McCaskill paused and pondered that notion. He began to grin.

“No,” he said, “not really.”

Were it not for a two-run single from an unlikely source--slumping Gary Pettis--McCaskill might have had to stay out there all night. Baltimore’s Storm Davis (4-4) yielded just seven hits, but because three of them came in the fifth inning, he went down a loser.

Reggie Jackson led off the fifth with a single, and one out later, Dick Schofield’s double down the left-field line moved him to third.

That brought up Pettis, batting .224 overall and .191 from the left side of the plate. And he was batting left-handed against the right-handed Davis.

But on a full-count pitch, Pettis lined a single up the middle to score Jackson and Schofield for what proved to be the only runs.

It was Pettis’ first game-winning hit of the season--and the Angels’ first in four games. Before Saturday, the Angels had lost eight of their last nine and 10 of their last 13.

Finally, they came up with a winning formula. An interesting one at that.

But Manager Gene Mauch didn’t want to dwell on the timing of McCaskill’s two-hitter--just the two-hitter.

“We feel too good to get philosophical,” Mauch said. “There’ll be more.”

McCaskill faced 30 batters--three over the minimum.

Wiggins hit what amounted to a swinging bunt toward second base, a slow roller that Wilfong tried to barehand. Wiggins is the fastest runner in the Orioles lineup, and Wilfong said he had no choice.

His bare hand failed to grasp the baseball. Wiggins crossed first base without a throw and was credited with an infield single.

“He hit it in the thick grass and the grass just sucked it up,” Wilfong said. “A guy like Wiggins, with his speed, you don’t have time to glove it. You have to barehand it.”

Wilfong also wanted to discuss the Orioles’ other hit.

“I could have had Dwyer’s, too,” he joked, “but I was out of position.”

Mauch said Wilfong made the only play he could on Wiggins’ grounder.

“I don’t think he could’ve thrown him out,” Mauch said. “Maybe if it had been a bunt attempt, with one or no strikes, he could have. Then, (Wilfong) would have shortened up, come in on the infield.

“The way Wiggins hit that one, it was better than any intentional bunt you can make.”

Angel Notes Dr. Lewis Yocum will re-examine Doug DeCinces’ separated left shoulder today and possibly administer a cortisone injection. “He said the only way to go now is the shot,” DeCinces said. “I have to make a decision--when to have it. After the shot, I can’t play the next day or so.” . . . DeCinces’ injury was one reason for Jack Howell’s promotion from Edmonton but, according to Gene Mauch, not the main one. “The thing I gotta do is get this thing straightened out,” he said. “We’re looking for a solution. I felt like (Howell’s recall) was part of it.”