McGregor Has Angels on Ice Once Again

What a peculiar sight, Baltimore Oriole pitcher Scott McGregor sitting at his locker in the team’s clubhouse Monday afternoon.

The left-hander had just thrown eight innings during the Orioles’ game against the Angels, but there were none of the usual ice packs that most pitchers drape over their arms or shoulders after a game. He spent no time in the trainer’s room. There was no ice bath.

McGregor merely met reporters, showered, dressed and was gone.

“I’ve got nothing to ice,” he said.

Except the Angels. Again.

McGregor allowed 11 hits but only three runs to help the Orioles to a 9-3 victory that improved his lifetime record against the Angels to 19-7. He’s 12-4 in Anaheim Stadium.

He beat the Angels Monday just as he has beaten them in the past nine years--killing them softly, with a variety of slow breaking balls, slower breaking balls, and a changeup.

Just what does McGregor have against the Angels?

“I’ve never been able to answer that,” he said. “I just get in a good groove out here. Maybe I expect to do well against them, and maybe they (the Angels), expect it, too. I’m confident here.”

The victory improved McGregor’s record to 9-11 and marked his first victory since he beat Toronto on Aug. 2. He spent two weeks during August in the bullpen trying to iron out a few problems.

“I got to sit there and look at things, and I realized I wasn’t pitching the way I should be,” McGregor said. “Every time you start struggling, you try to pitch perfectly, but you have to be aggressive. You can’t be afraid to throw the ball over the plate. The last two games, I’ve thrown like I should be throwing.”

All that got him Thursday against Oakland was a no-decision. He left the game with two out in the seventh inning and a 6-4 lead, but the A’s rallied with two runs in the bottom of the ninth off ace reliever Don Aase to win, 8-7.

McGregor had better luck Monday. In the third, the Angels loaded the bases with no outs, and McGregor fell behind Brian Downing, 3-0. But after a called strike, Downing lined into a double play. Doug DeCinces then flied to deep left field, and McGregor escaped without yielding a run.

McGregor also stranded runners at third base in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Aase pitched a scoreless ninth.