Cliburn Makes Angels Work Overtime to Beat A’s, 7-6

Shades of 1985, Stewart Cliburn was at it again Wednesday afternoon, pitching the Angels into the 10th inning . . . and into the 11th . . . and into the 12th.

“They called me the Marathon Man in ‘85,” Cliburn said. “I was no different today, I guess.”

Cliburn, who went 9-3 with four extra-inning victories during 1985, his first and only major league season, threw three hitless innings against the Oakland A’s to help make the Angels’ final day in Arizona this spring a long one. After 14 innings, the Angels finally won, 7-6.

Cliburn took some ribbing in the aftermath--like, why did you have to go and do that on getaway day? Couldn’t you have grooved one so we could get out of here?

“Hey, I’m trying to make a ballclub,” Cliburn said, grinning. It has taken Cliburn two years to get back to this point. If that meant delaying the Angels’ departure for Palm Springs another 90 minutes, it was worth it.

For Cliburn, those last two years have been a lot of pain--shoulder and forearm injuries, surgery, rehabilitation and frustration in the minor leagues. Last winter, the Angels all but gave up on him, removing him from the 40-man roster and offering Cliburn only an Triple-A Edmonton contract.

Cliburn accepted and came to camp as a non-roster player. “It seems like my whole career has been a constant grind,” he said.

But once again, Cliburn is grinding out scoreless innings.

The three he pitched Wednesday lowered his ERA to 2.16. Thus far, Cliburn has appeared in 4 games, worked 8 innings and allowed 2 earned runs.

Angel Notes

By the time Wednesday’s game was over, the Angels and the A’s had played for 4 1/2 hours and used a total of 49 players. The deciding run was scored when Mark McLemore singled home Jack Howell from second base in the top of the 14th. For McLemore, batting in the leadoff spot, it was his second hit of the day. He also stole a base. . . . The Angels amassed 17 hits, with Chili Davis going 3 for 7 with a home run. Howell and Devon White both went 2 for 6 with catcher Bob Boone and Darrell Miller finishing 2 for 3.