Angels : Petry Takes a Beating and Is Pleased With His Progress

Dan Petry admits that it might have been difficult to tell, but he insists that his performance Saturday was a 100% improvement over his only other spring outing, when he allowed 6 runs in 1 innings against the San Francisco Giants.

Maybe it was that home run by Milwaukee’s Paul Molitor on Petry’s first pitch. And the fact that the ball hit the center-field screen about 20 feet above the 408 sign.

Or maybe it was the double, four singles and four more runs he gave up in the first inning of the Brewers’ 10-1 exhibition victory at Angels Stadium.

“I don’t know if anyone saw it, but I felt it,” Petry said. “I was throwing much, much better than I was in Scottsdale (against the Giants). That was a disaster. This time, I was throwing good, and they were just hitting the ball.

“In the regular season, you couldn’t feel good about giving up five runs in the first inning . . . but I feel good.”

Petry, who suffered a mildly herniated disk in his lower back during a fielding drill Feb. 25, finished his three-inning stint by retiring the last five Brewers he faced. He allowed 7 hits and 4 earned runs with 1 strikeout and no walks.

“I just want to make sure I’ve got six bullets in my gun when I get my first start,” he said. “I threw well today. I think my stamina and strength are good.

“I feel great. My back feels great. My arm feels great. I’m very confident I’ll be ready in two weeks.”

Sometimes it’s just hard to tell.

Petry wasn’t the only Angel pitcher who felt good but didn’t fare well. Donnie Moore, whose earned-run average in his first three spring appearances was 1.80, pitched 1 inning and yielded 4 hits and 4 runs.

Moore, hampered by a bone spur in his elbow, said the pain level was down, but his fastball was up.

“It (the pain) is still there, but the elbow feels pretty good,” Moore said. “I’m not worried about it. It’s been there for years, and this happens every spring.

“I just threw every fastball high. Unless you’re throwing 95 m.p.h., you’re not going to get anyone out with that pitch.”

Angel Notes

The Angels’ clubhouse was in an uproar Saturday morning after a drawing for an NCAA basketball pool conducted by trainer Rick Smith. Smith picked Arizona out of the hat, and first baseman Wally Joyner was the first to notice that the piece of paper with “Arizona” written on it had a jagged edge. Most of the other scraps were smooth-edged. A kangaroo court was immediately set up by Joyner with pitching coach Marcel Lachemann acting as judge. When Joyner handed Lachemann the allegedly “marked” slip, third baseman Jack Howell yelled, “Don’t cut your finger on that one, Lach.” Joyner then began the interrogation. “Did you set this pool up?” Joyner asked. “To the best of my recollection, yes,” Smith replied. Joyner then pointed out that Smith had made two selections, one for himself and one for trainer Ned Bergert. “He picks Arizona for himself and Murray State for Ned. I rest my case.” Joyner said. Judge Lachemann’s decision? “If this were the Old West, there’d be a hanging today.” . . . Willie Fraser pitched 4 innings, struck out 4 and gave up 3 hits and a run. “It was good outing,” he said. “I tried out a new grip on my forkball, and it’s made it more consistent.” . . . Manager Gene Mauch was a spectator again Saturday.