Witt Paces Angels to a 5-4 Win : Tigers’ Rally Fails as Minton Gets Save

Mike Witt arrived at Anaheim Stadium Sunday knowing:

a) The Angel bullpen was down to its last reliever.

b) The Detroit Tigers, who lead the American League in hitting, had scored 9 and 12 runs, respectively, in their two previous games.

c) An Angel victory could whittle their Western Division deficit to three games.

d) A Tuesday appointment at the All-Star game awaited, and nobody likes to look bad before a national appearance.

With this in mind, Witt calmly disposed of the Tigers for seven innings, before giving way to the lone reliever, Greg Minton. Six somewhat harrowing outs later, the Angels had a 5-4 victory and Witt had his necessary All-Star calling card.

Now when Witt tips his cap during Tuesday’s pregame introductions, he’ll do so with an 11-5 record and the satisfaction that he is safely among the league leaders in earned-run average (3.31), strikeouts (117) and wins. Witt might also want to thank Minton, who wriggled out of considerable trouble in the eighth inning of Sunday’s game and again in the ninth to record his sixth save and salvage a series split with the hit-happy Tigers.

It wasn’t easy. Witt, who had performed with typical precision through seven innings, suddenly found himself without a clue, to say nothing of a strike, in the eighth. A 5-1 lead was in jeopardy as Witt walked Jim Walewander on four pitches to begin the inning and then added Lou Whitaker to the basepaths with another walk.

“There was something happening, where it was a long inning there (in the Angels’ seventh),” Witt said. “I came back out and I didn’t get it going. I’m kind of disappointed that I didn’t get it going.”

On came Minton, the National League refugee who represented the last fresh arm in the Angel bullpen “unless you count Bob Clear, the bullpen coach,” Minton said. No one else was available; 21 Tiger runs in two games had seen to that.

“After (Saturday) they told me, ‘Greg, you’ve got long, middle and short relief today,’ ” Minton said.

So needy were the Angels that they sent the right-handed Minton to face left-handers Darrell Evans, Kirk Gibson, Matt Nokes and Pat Sheridan. Evans lined a single to center that loaded the bases. Gibson then grounded to first, initiating what could have been the start of a double play.

But Angel shortstop Gus Polidor, playing in place of the injured Dick Schofield, dropped Wally Joyner’s throw. The error allowed Walewander to score and gave the Tigers three more baserunners with no outs. In a surprising development, Nokes grounded into a double play, which allowed Whitaker to score.

Entering the eighth, Nokes had five hits, including three home runs, in just nine at-bats against the Angels this series. “There’s a cashmere sport coat for the first guy who puts an oh-fer collar on him,” Angel Manager Gene Mauch said later.

Sheridan ended the inning with a grounder to Minton and the Angels led, 5-3.

The ninth was equally trying. With one out, little-used Dave Bergman homered to right, only his fifth of the season and just his ninth RBI. Pinch-hitter Chet Lemon grounded out, but Alan Trammell, batting for Walewander, walked. The tying run was on base.

No matter. Whitaker grounded sharply to Joyner, who paused before placing his foot on first and ending the game.

“It was a long time between the first game and the fourth game of that series,” Mauch said.

Perhaps it was worth the wait. Mauch saw Witt pitch once more into the eighth inning. The bullpen, or what was left of it, received a much-deserved rest. “I beat that bullpen to death,” Mauch had said a night earlier. Doug DeCinces hit safely in his 11th of 12 games.

And then there were the exploits of Angel right fielder Devon White, who began the game in a slump (6 for 43). He ended the day with two doubles, two runs, two stolen bases and a put-out that ended a potential Tiger rally in the second.

“If he does anything more than he’s already done, that might surprise me,” Mauch said.

With two outs, Nokes on second and Bergman on first, Tom Brookens sliced a drive to right field and White. Nokes rounded third as White fielded the ball on one bounce and sent a throw to catcher Bob Boone. Nokes was out by several feet.

“The only thing Matt Nokes can’t do to us is outrun the baseball,” Mauch said.

Especially if thrown by White, who now has nine outfield assists.

Said White: “I knew who was running. It wasn’t Kirk Gibson, it was Matt Nokes.”

The Angels finished the first half with a 46-43 record and find themselves within easy viewing distance of the division-leading Minnesota Twins. That’s all Mauch could ask for--that, and his usual dose of Witt.

“In the last three weeks, we did what we had to do,” he said. “Now we’ve got ourselves in a position to do some more.”

Angel Notes Shortstop Dick Schofield sprained his left shoulder while trying to dodge a ball hit by Bob Boone in the fifth and was forced to leave the game. Precautionary X-rays will be taken, though Manager Gene Mauch said the injury does not appear to be serious. “The doctors said it was a bruise, but it scared the hell out of me,” Mauch said. “I thought maybe he dislocated it the way he came down.” Schofield was struck in the leg as he made his way to third. He then fell forward, falling on the shoulder. His condition will be re-evaluated today. . . . Gus Polidor replaced Schofield in the sixth inning. It was Polidor’s first appearance since June 20 and the first time he’s played shortstop since June 12.

Kirk McCaskill, who returned from the disabled list in time to pitch four-plus innings of relief Saturday, apparently suffered no ill effects. According to Mauch, McCaskill’s once-injured right elbow felt fine on Sunday. McCaskill, who took reliever Donnie Moore’s place on the roster, threw 77 pitches and allowed three runs and six hits. “He’s been extended further than that three times,” said Mauch, referring to McCaskill’s earlier rehabilitation appearances. “But it’s still not the same until you go out there.” McCaskill will start Thursday against Milwaukee in County Stadium. Following his third rehabilitation outing, McCaskill had said he hoped for a July 5 start. He was off by 12 days. “It would be real nice if Kirk agreed with all the decisions made, but it’s not absolutely necessary,” Mauch said. “I think he will be very good. I think he’s well prepared to pitch Thursday. He’s better prepared than he would have been the night before last (Friday).”

Catcher Butch Wynegar, who injured his right big toe while trying to beat out a grounder Friday, received an anti-inflammatory injection from team physician Dr. Lewis Yocum Sunday. Wynegar, who said he hopes to return by Thursday, will travel to trainer Ned Bergert’s home today for additional treatment.