Sutton Creates Stir; Yankees Win in 11th

Monday night’s series opener between the Angels and the New York Yankees provided an Anaheim Stadium crowd and a television audience with more than a few fun-filled questions.

Was that really Doug (Skeets) DeCinces batting in the leadoff spot for the Angels?

Was that really Kirk McCaskill pinch-running for Bill Buckner in the ninth inning?

Was that really a Band-Aid on the palm of Don Sutton’s left hand?

And, by the way, who is really going to win this game?

The answer to that last one wasn’t provided until the 11th, when New York’s Mike Pagliarulo hit a two-out double to score Claudell Washington from second base, giving the Yankees a 3-2 victory over the Angels.

Washington had led off the 11th with a walk against reliever Gary Lucas, and moved to second on an infield out by Don Mattingly before Pagliarulo lined his double down the right-field line, breaking a 2-2 tie.

The Angels forged that tie thanks to a home run by DeCinces, who was batting in the leadoff position for the first time as an Angel. Manager Gene Mauch put DeCinces there in an attempt to stack as many right-handed hitters as he could against Yankee left-hander Tommy John.

DeCinces went 2 for 5 at the top of the order, hitting a bases-empty home run in the fourth inning and a single in the fifth.

In the ninth, Mauch pulled another strategic twist by using McCaskill, normally a starting pitcher, as a pinch-runner. McCaskill never had a chance to show his stuff and was stranded at first base.

But the most interesting sideshow of the night occurred in the early innings with Sutton pitching for the Angels. Sutton had nothing to do with the final decision, but for seven innings, he maintained the keen attention of New York television viewers, who were treated to camera close-ups of a tape-like substance that appeared to be attached to Sutton’s left hand.

Monday’s game was broadcast to the New York area, and during the first inning, television station WPIX trained its cameras on Sutton. The television feed was also displayed in the Anaheim Stadium press box, showing shots of Sutton’s hands between pitches.

A small patch, which resembled an adhesive bandage, could be seen on the palm of Sutton’s left hand. The camera then showed Sutton holding the ball in his right hand before bringing his hands together and rubbing the baseball.

Sutton was the center of a scuff-ball controversy during his last start, when Baltimore Orioles coach Frank Robinson requested an inspection of the pitcher, resulting in three baseballs being removed from play by umpire Don Denkinger. But Monday, the Yankees did not ask for any baseballs to be checked, although home plate umpire Rick Reed did remove the ball Sutton used to strike out Rick Cerone in the fifth inning.

The replays reportedly created quite a stir on the East Coast. Yankee publicist Harvey Greene reported that several New York newspapers received numerous phone calls from incensed viewers.

Afterward, Sutton met with the press only long enough to say the foreign object was a bandage covering a blister.

“I suppose you’re not going to buy it if I tell you it was a picture of my kids,” Sutton quipped. “And you’re probably not going to buy it if I tell you it was covering up a blister, which it was.

“I give you my word that it was not sandpaper, it was not an emery board--and I don’t mind being checked on the mound any time. And that’s all I can tell you.”

Mauch claimed he was not aware of any incident involving Sutton until Angel General Manager Mike Port told him of the television replays after the game.

“I didn’t know there was any commotion until I came in this room,” Mauch said. “All I know is that he had a blister on his hand. If what I saw is accurate, there’s nothing to discuss. He was kidding around in the dugout early in the game, and I saw a blister on the palm of his left hand.”

The Yankees were not privy to such video assistance, which may have been one reason why they didn’t protest.

Then again, there might have been another reason: Their starting pitcher, Tommy John, has also been suspected of doctoring the baseball. No sense in stirring things up by demanding the other guy be frisked.

So Sutton and John pitched on, dueling to a 2-2 standoff through seven innings. Sutton allowed 3 hits in 7 innings, John 6 hits in 6 innings.

Once again, the home run cost Sutton. He surrendered 16 home runs in his previous nine starts and in the second inning, Sutton fell behind, 1-0, when he served up Dave Winfield’s 23rd homer of the season.

Sutton gave up another run in the sixth when Randy Velarde bounced an infield single over third baseman DeCinces’ head, took second on walk to Washington, took third on a sacrifice bunt and came home on a sacrifice fly by Mattingly.

The Angels scored both of their runs in the bottom of the fourth.

DeCinces led off with a home run to center field, his 15th of the season. One out later, Tony Armas doubled to left and scored when George Hendrick hit a one-hopper that bounced past Yankee second baseman Bobby Meacham.

The ball short-hopped Meacham and caromed into right field. Right fielder Winfield made a strong throw to the plate, but catcher Cerone could not hold the ball and Armas was safe with a slide.

Angel Notes

Rib injuries aren’t contagious, but another Angel relief pitcher was complaining of soreness in his right side Monday afternoon. DeWayne Buice, the Angels’ team leader in saves, was examined by Dr. Jules Rasinski, who diagnosed a cartilage strain in Buice’s rib cage. That isn’t the best of news for a team that already has Donnie Moore on the disabled list because of a chronic rib condition. Buice described the injury as “no big deal, nothing to fret over,” but said he didn’t think he’d be able to throw again for three or four days. “I’m going to rest it a couple of days,” Buice said. “It’s a minor thing, but the idea is not to let it turn into something major. Donnie’s a good example of what can happen if you don’t keep it in check.” Buice said he first felt discomfort below his right arm while warming up before pitching the ninth inning of Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. “It was just a twinge,” said Buice, who walked around the clubhouse with an ice vest strapped around his chest. “I just don’t want to take any chances.”