Orioles Hit Some Pettis Can’t Catch : He Makes Several Fine Plays, but Witt Pounded in 9-3 Loss

There were some clues, detected early in the Baltimore Orioles’ 9-3 victory Monday, that a couple of seven-game winning streaks--the Angels’ and Mike Witt’s--were headed for a pounding.

All one had to do was keep an eye on Gary Pettis, the Angels’ harried center fielder:

First inning--Pettis gets a mouthful of outfield-fence padding when he races into the right-center field gap to make a basket catch of Cal Ripken’s drive.

Second inning--Pettis sprints in front of right fielder George Hendrick to snare a sinking line drive by Jim Traber in full stride.

Third inning--Pettis, again, explores the outer reaches of Anaheim Stadium, turning his back on Jackie Gutierrez’s deep fly, heading straight for the wall and backhanding the ball just before receiving more fence burns.

The game was still scoreless, but it was obvious that this was not typical Witt. Baltimore wasn’t seeing the same stuff that made Witt 7-0 with a 1.10 earned-run average in his previous seven starts.

Sooner or later, the Orioles were bound to hit it where Pettis wasn’t.

It happened sooner. And later.

Immediately after Pettis’ third saving catch, Baltimore erupted for five runs.

It started with Juan Beniquez at first base and John Shelby lining the ball to right field. Evidently, defense isn’t contagious. Hendrick let the ball skitter past him for an error, allowing Beniquez to score and sending Shelby to third base.

A walk to Fred Lynn followed. So did an RBI single to left-center field by Ripken. And, finally, so did another drive to center field by Eddie Murray, this one landing where only ushers--not Pettis--roam.

Murray’s three-run home run beyond the center-field fence gave the Orioles a 5-0 lead. It became 6-0 on a fifth-inning home run by Lynn, and when Shelby made it 7-1 with an RBI double in the seventh, Witt was gone.

“They got on to a couple of his pitches today, that’s it,” said Angel Manager Gene Mauch, who changed pitchers after Witt allowed seven runs (six earned) on five hits and two walks through 6 innings.

“He had a couple of unusual walks. They just caught on to him. Eddie Murray has caught on to a few pitchers here and there.”

The loss left Witt at 16-8 and ended the Angels’ longest winning streak since they won 10 straight in 1979.

The Angels remained 5 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Texas Rangers, who lost to the Boston Red Sox, 6-4, Monday night.

During a perfect month of August (5-0, 0.21 ERA), Witt complained that writers had taken notice of him only when the wins began. “When I lose, nobody talks to me,” Witt said after a 6-1 victory in Detroit. “That ticks me off.”

Finally given the opportunity to conduct a post-loss press conference Monday, Witt was nowhere to be found. By the time the clubhouse door was opened to reporters, Witt was on his way home.

So, the press had to settle for a comment or two from Witt’s catcher, Bob Boone.

Boone said Witt was “not as bad as he made out.” He described Witt’s stuff as “decent,” lacking mainly in precise location--and, maybe, killer instinct.

“He had a chance to put away several hitters, but he didn’t make the pitch he needed,” Boone said. “A lot of his curveballs were left up (in the strike zone). He was not putting the ball where he wants it, and that changes things.”

Witt leads the American League in innings pitched (224) and had pitched into the seventh inning or later in 26 of his first 27 starts. Boone was asked if he detected a tired pitching arm.

“No,” Boone said. “When you’re not putting the ball where you want, it might look that way. But his mechanics were sound. Murray’s home run really hurt him, but he made a decent pitch to him.”

While Witt’s streak was ending, his counterpart, Scott McGregor, was adding to one of the American League’s more impressive stories of success. McGregor (9-11) beat the Angels for the 20th time in his last 25 decisions against California. Including a 1979 playoff victory, McGregor is 20-7 lifetime against the Angels.

McGregor did this despite giving up 11 hits in eight innings. George Hendrick had a home run, Dick Schofield had two triples and Wally Joyner, Brian Downing and Bobby Grich all had doubles.

But the Angels consistently got minimum mileage out of maximum hit production. The most glaring example was the third inning, with McGregor pitching to Downing with the bases loaded and no outs.

Downing ripped the ball down the left-field line. Third baseman Beniquez intercepted it, snaring the line drive for one out and picking off Pettis off second base for a double play.

Doug DeCinces then flied to left and the Angels came up empty for their efforts.

That was the tone of the day--for the Angels’ offense, for Pettis’ defense.

“We sure wasted a bunch of catches today,” DeCinces said as he walked up to his locker.

Pettis slowly pulled on a pair of pants in front of the adjacent stall. “Yeah,” he said wearily. “Tell me about it.”

Angel Notes

After Monday’s game, the Angels announced the addition of seven Edmonton players to their September roster. Pitcher Ray Chadwick and utilityman Darrell Miller rejoined the club, with the Angels also promoting pitchers Urbano Lugo and Willie Fraser, infielders Mark McLemore and Gus Polidor and outfielder Mark Ryal. Notably absent from this list was Ron Romanick and, judging from the comments of General Manager Mike Port, Romanick could be absent from the Angels’ 1987 plans as well. “When we put our priorities in order, we decided to bring in just three pitchers. There’s no sense bringing in seven,” Port said. “Conceivably, we could’ve called up two more pitchers and Ron Romanick’s name would not be one of them.” Romanick was 2-3 with a 5.71 ERA at Edmonton, but he has pitched well in four of his last five starts. If Romanick’s recent outings hadn’t warranted a promotion, had they at least whetted the interest of other ballclubs? “Quite the contrary,” Port said. “He’s much more capable than what he has shown in Edmonton. The capability must be there some place. We know health is not a factor.” Would the Angels recommend Romanick pitch in the winter leagues? Port: “I wouldn’t have any plans to.” Will the Angels invite Romanick to spring training? Port: “Would you bring him in?” The Angels have apparently given up on a pitcher who won 12 games in 1984 and 14 in 1985. But Romanick’s most significant victory may have come during the winter, when he became the only Angel to beat Port in arbitration. Port claims to hold no grudge against Romanick, but the signal being sent to the other Angel players is interesting nonetheless. More from Port: “I wish we had been able to announce Ron was coming back. It would’ve meant he had shown the capability to make it back. But the during the time he was at Edmonton, Willie Fraser was 4-1 and overpowering hitters. Lugo was improving. Ron had allowed significantly more hits (67) than innings pitched (52).”

Devon White started in left field and had two singles and two stolen bases. “It’s just a matter of time with him,” Gene Mauch said. White also followed Gary Pettis into the outfield fences, smashing into the wall after failing to catch John Shelby’s seventh-inning double. “He has those long strides,” Pettis said. “Where it might take me two strides to reach the wall, he’ll get there in one or one-and-a-half. He’ll learn.” . . . Mauch on Pettis: “I get to the point that if the ball stays in the park, I expect Gary to catch it--and maybe sometimes when the ball goes out of the park. I’ve seen him make a couple of those.” Cal Ripken on Pettis: “He’s a magnet. He gets to every ball and every ball gets to him.” Pettis on Pettis: “I had a day off yesterday. I guess (the Orioles) must have known that. I thought it was a pretty fast start for a ballgame.”