Joyner Grabs a Win for Lazorko : First Baseman’s Defensive Play Stymies 9th-Inning Threat

The Angels were leading by a run in the ninth inning Thursday night, but there wasn’t anybody in Anaheim Stadium ready to bet the house on an Angel victory.

For the Angels and their fans, optimism is a rare commodity these days. Almost as rare as victories.

Jack Lazorko was on the mound. He was leading, 3-2. But he had made it into the ninth inning on three occasions this season and had yet to come away with a win. And when White Sox designated hitter Harold Baines opened the ninth with a single to center, you could almost feel a veil of dread fall over the Angels.

First baseman Greg Walker then ripped a shot down the first-base line that seemed destined for extra bases. But Angel first baseman Wally Joyner has this way of fooling around with destiny. He dived for the ball--throwing his body to the ground as if in an effort to smother all the bad fortune that has befallen the Angels of late--and stabbed at the ball.

Somehow, it stuck in his glove. He rolled over, touched first base and then fired to shortstop Dick Schofield, who tagged out Baines.

Lazorko struck out Ivan Calderon for the last out.

“When Baines got that hit, I admit that I started to think, ‘Here we go again,’ ” Joyner said. “But I was thinking of it in a way like, ‘I hope nobody else is thinking this way.’

“I was especially hoping Jack wasn’t thinking that. I just wanted him to continue pitching the way he had all night, which was great.”

Joyner didn’t have a chance to think that just maybe the Angels’ luck had changed when he dived for the ball. But the thought that it hadn’t changed crossed his mind as he watched his throw sail inches past Baines on its way toward second base.

“That was probably the worst throw I’ve made in that situation this season,” Joyner said.

“When I caught the ball, I realized it didn’t get by, but that’s all really. But when I threw it, I was sure it was going to hit the runner, and then he’d be on third with just one out.

“When Dick made the tag, I thought that just maybe our luck had changed.”

Before Thursday, the Angels had lost 11 of their last 12 games, but Joyner wasn’t exactly struggling individually. He hit .356 with two doubles, four homers and 11 RBIs over that 12-game span. After a very slow start, Joyner is hitting .292.

Joyner played more than the defensive specialist role Thursday night. He drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center in the third and then brought home Gary Pettis with the game-winner with a single to center in the eighth.

“Those are the things I’m supposed to be doing,” Joyner said. “It’s my job to use both the bat and the glove. I just want to be consistent. I’m happy with the way I’ve been playing to a certain extent, but really, I’d rather be hitting .270 and not have had us go through that 2-and-11 run of games.”

It was a worn-and-weary group of Angels that arrived back at Anaheim Stadium Thursday morning from their 1-7 foray on the road. Joyner said he got home at 4:45 a.m.

“Rest is overrated,” he said, flashing a big grin.

Maybe, but Wally Joyner isn’t, at least not in the eyes of one Jack Lazorko.

“Wally made a hell of a play,” said Lazorko, still semi-breathless after winning his first major league game. “I think that turned the game around.”