BASEBALL MISCELLANY : NUMBERS

The Buice Squad: Amid the absence and continuing recuperation of Donnie Moore, the Angels’ bullpen has provided a surprising foundation for the club’s resurgence. In a 30-game span through Friday, the bullpen had a 5-1 record, 12 saves and 1.99 earned-run average based on 24 earned runs in 109 innings. DeWayne Buice, the veteran of 10 minor league seasons, had allowed only one run in 19 innings in his last seven appearances, recording five saves and a win. Of the last 14 runners he inherited, none scored. Greg Minton, released by the San Francisco Giants, was 2-0 with 5 saves and a 2.06 ERA and Gary Lucas had allowed only two earned runs in his last 26 innings.

The Milwaukee Brewers: They left Seattle May 3 with a 20-4 record. On July 8, they left Seattle with a 40-41 record.

Milwaukee’s Juan Nieves: His no-hitter against Baltimore helped highlight that 17-1 Brewer getaway, but he has no other complete games in 18 starts.

Houston’s Nolan Ryan and Bob Knepper: They combined for 29 wins in 70 games last year. They now have 7 wins in 34 games.

The New York Yankees’ Rick Rhoden: He has allowed two or fewer runs in 11 of 15 starts.

Baltimore’s Rick Burleson: Hitting .209, the Orioles released him Friday, before he could attain the 100 games that would automatically qualify him for a 1988 contract.

The New York Mets’ Big Four: Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling, Bob Ojeda and Sid Fernandez combined for a 41-10 record over the first half of last season. They were 19-17 through the first half of this season.

Minnesota’s Jeff Reardon: He has 17 saves, in contrast to the 24 that the Twins registered all of last year. He has three wins and seven saves in his last 13 appearances, striking out 21 in 18 innings.

The St. Louis Cardinals: Through Saturday, they led the major leagues in runs with 483 despite only 55 homers, the second fewest. No National League team had led the majors in runs this late in a season since the American League adopted the designated hitter rule in 1972.

The Pittsburgh Pirates: Looking for more production, they farmed out shortstop Rafael Belliard and recalled Felix Fermin, who had not hit a home run in five minor league seasons and never hit more than 13 doubles in a season.

Kansas City’s Dan Quisenberry: Still looking for the groove that he misplaced at the start of last season, he has inherited 31 runners and allowed 18 to score.