Ruhle Saves Game for Angels, Spot for Himself

Terry Forster had likened it to sitting down before a sumptuous eight-course dinner, appetite whetted, and then being cut off after soup and salad.

Had this been real food Forster was discussing, such restraint might have been a wise idea. But these were the playoffs Forster was talking about.

After winning four games, saving five others and compiling a 3.51 earned-run average in 41 appearances for the American League West champion Angels, it appears Forster will be denied a taste of dessert. Unofficially, Forster and Vern Ruhle had been competing for the final spot on Manager Gene Mauch’s postseason roster. Officially, Ruhle earned a trip to Boston after pitching three scoreless innings to save the Angels’ 2-0 victory over Texas Saturday night.

“Ruhle will be one of the nine,” said Mauch, referring to his plans for a nine-man playoff pitching staff.

Did that mean Forster was out?

“There’ll be something on it (Sunday),” Mauch said. “I don’t want to talk about it. That’s painful--more painful than anything I’ve done in my life.”

Ruhle got the word from reporters that he had made the roster. He then speculated on who would be left behind: “Probably one of the left-handers, either Chuck (Finley) or Terry. Terry mentioned it might be him.”

Forster wasn’t mentioning anything to anyone with a notepad. He sat sullenly on a stool in front of his locker, smoking a cigarette, his attention divided between a wrestling match on television and the carpet on the clubhouse floor.

“I have nothing to say,” Forster said quietly. “The only thing I can say is that they’re going to go with the nine they think are going to do it. I’ll just be happy for all of the nine.”

Forster was seemingly victimized by the 24-man roster and the configuration of Fenway Park.

Before 1986, when every major league club made a gentlemen’s agreement to cut back to 24 players, baseball rosters were set at 25. The Angels have 25 players eligible for the playoffs. But the Angels, unwilling to break ranks to reward a man who was their best left-handed reliever for half a season, will go to Boston with 24.

Historically, left-handers don’t fare well pitching in the shadow of the Green Monster, Fenway’s short left-field fence.

Mauch’s playoff bullpen figures to include three right-handers (Donnie Moore, Doug Corbett and Ruhle) and two left-handers (Finley and Gary Lucas).

Mauch has credited Forster with helping hold together a bullpen depleted by injuries to Moore and Lucas through July. And Forster did not allow an earned run in four appearances against the Red Sox.

But those four appearances came in May and June. Because of an ankle injury, Forster did not pitch in the Angels’ last two series with Boston.

And lately, Forster has been ineffective, allowing runs in three of his last four outings.

By comparison, Finley is coming off a stint of 5 scorless innings in Kansas City Tuesday. And Ruhle has not allowed a run in his last five innings.

Ruhle saved John Candelaria’s 10th victory by retiring each of the nine Rangers he faced. He struck out two en route to his first save since Sept. 27, 1985.

Ruhle admitted his uncertain status served as inspiration.

“I’m sure it had something to do with it,” he said. “There was some tension. Everybody on the club knew they had to make a decision. It had to be on everyone’s minds. It was on (the pitchers’) minds.”