Newest Angel Gives Up Too Much to White Sox

The Angels weren’t looking for a stopper or a savior when they placed that phone call to Midland, Tex., to page one Michael Horace Cook. They were simply searching for some temporary help, someone to hold the fort until the rehabilitation of John Candelaria is complete.

Well, today the fort is still standing but now, it is located in second place.

The Chicago White Sox christened Cook with a five-run third inning Tuesday night at Anaheim Stadium. The third would be Cook’s last inning of the evening--and enough to give the White Sox a 5-3 victory in front of 28,421, knocking the Angels back out of first place.

With Texas beating Minnesota, the Rangers finally took advantage of an Angel losing streak that reached three games and reclaimed a half-game lead in the American League West, a lead the Angels owned since leaving Texas a week ago.

As major league debuts go, Cook’s looked like . . . well, your basic major league debut. Cook pitched not unlike any other 22-year-old making the jump from Double-A, where he had been 4-6 with a 3.50 earned run average.

He worked three innings, allowed five hits, two walks and five runs. His third inning was every nervous rookie pitcher’s nightmare.

The first two batters, Bobby Bonilla and Steve Lyons, singled to right. Cook then walked Todd Cruz. Instant bases-loaded jam.

After John Cangelosi hit a harmless fly to shallow center field, Ozzie Guillen doubled just inside the right-field line for two runs. An intentional walk to .308-hitting Harold Baines followed, re-loading the bases.

Cook got cleanup hitter Greg Walker to hit the ball on the ground--and that’s when the real trouble started. The ball exploded off first baseman Wally Joyner’s glove and ricocheted into foul territory. By the time right-fielder George Hendrick could retrieve the ball, the bases were cleared and the White Sox had a 5-1 lead.

That would be all for Cook. Chuck Finley came on in the fourth and kept Chicago in check, allowing just two singles over the next five innings.

Finley opened the ninth but issued a leadoff walk to Cruz and was immediately replaced by Terry Forster. Finley’s five-inning stint was his longest yet, bettering his previous high of 3 innings.

The Angels, who scored their first run on Rick Burleson’s leadoff home run, had their chances against starter Floyd Bannister, but capitalized only in the fifth inning. The Angels had two singles in both the second and fourth innings, but did not move a runner beyond second base either time.

In the fifth, however, they finally got some help. After singles by Burleson and Dick Schofield, Bannister took a stab at picking Burleson off second. Bannister’s throw went into center field, enabling Burleson and Schofield both to advance.

From there, Burleson scored on an infield out by Brian Downing and Schofield on a single by Doug DeCinces.

DeCinces’ single was the last of the night for the Angels, who were shut down over the final four innings by relievers Dave Schmidt and Bob James. Schmidt walked two batters in two innings and James walked one in two innings.

James earned his 12th save, preserving Bannister’s (4-4) fourth victory--although Jack Howell, the Angels’ final hitter, might have trouble believing it.

With two out and Reggie Jackson on first, Howell hit a grounder to first that Walker momentarily bobbled before flipping to James, who was covering the base. The play at first was close--television replays indicated that Howell may have beaten the throw--but first base umpire Tim Tschida clenched his fist.

Howell argued briefly, before turning and walking silently off the field, making his way toward a second-place clubhouse.

Angel Notes

Tuesday afternoon at Ventura, John Candelaria went to the mound--and the mound came undone. Complaining of loose dirt and a divot in front of the pitching rubber, Candelaria worked just two innings, allowing 2 hits and 1 earned run while striking out 3 and walking 2. Scheduled to throw 75 pitches, Candelaria delivered 41 during the game and finished up his workout on the sidelines. “The mound was pretty bad,” concurred Gary Lucas, who also pitched two innings in Palm Springs’ 9-3 victory over Ventura. “Most of them in the minors are. It was a steep slope to begin with and there was a hole in front of the mound about 10 inches deep. I knew it was bothering John.” Said Gene Mauch: “Candy said the mound was less than right and he didn’t want to risk it. In that loose dirt, he could have hurt himself in a minute.” Candelaria was monitored closely by Angel team therapist Roger Williams and Palm Springs Manager Tom Kotchman, who agreed with Candelaria’s decision to abort his starting assignment. “We thought we had all the bases covered, but I guess we should have sent a groundskeeper, too,” Mauch joked. . . . Candelaria said he threw without discomfort and is scheduled to join the Angels when they begin a 10-game trip Friday in Toronto. Mauch said Candelaria is tentatively set to start next Tuesday’s game in Milwaukee. . . . ..In his two-inning stint, Lucas threw 26 pitches, striking out three while allowing one hit. “The back was a little achy,” Lucas said, “but honestly, I’m trying to pitch out of it.” Lucas is expected to continue a rehabilitative program with the Palm Springs Angels, scheduled to make at least one more appearance for the Class A team. . . . Rick Burleson’s leadoff home run was the second in as many nights for the Angels--and like Ruppert Jones before him, Burleson connected on the first pitch. The home run, Burleson’s second of the season, was his first at Anaheim Stadium since June 10, 1981--about two weeks after Jim Fregosi was fired as Angels manager.