Angels : Padre Outfielder Abner Robs Ray of Hit, Even While Getting Fenced In

Those fence-bustin’ Angels were at it one last time here Wednesday, with Johnny Ray sending San Diego right fielder Shawn Abner back, back, back to the track, to the wall, through the wall.

It was the first broken-fence out of the season, with Abner literally running through the wall to catch the ball--and then catching himself in the splintered wood. And there Abner stayed, his torso wedged in the fence, until center fielder Stanley Jefferson could jog over and lend assistance.

“I was going back, I caught the ball, and the next thing I knew, I was stuck between two boards in the fence,” said Abner. “I didn’t know how to get out. I was afraid to move. I thought I might puncture a lung.”

Advertisements for several Palm Springs businesses and restaurants are painted on the outfield fences at Angels Stadium, and for a few moments, Abner looked like the new logo for La Cabana Mexican Cuisine. Finally, Jefferson reached the scene and helped pull his teammate free.

“I wasn’t going to leave him out there, (although) he would’ve gotten out of there, eventually,” Jefferson said.

Angel Manager Cookie Rojas said he has never seen anything like it.

“When he hit it, I thought it was out of the park,” Rojas said.

Instead, Abner was--or, at least, half of him.

“That’s something I’ve never done before,” said Ray, whose fifth-inning drive made it all possible.

As a learning outfielder himself, could Ray empathize with Abner?

“I was just hoping the ball would drop out of his glove,” Ray said, grinning.

And what did Abner learn from the experience?

“They don’t make fences like they used to,” he said.

Before the Angels’ Palm Springs finale Wednesday afternoon, Lee Walls, the outfield instructor hired by the Angels for Project Ray, packed his bags and prepared to leave, but he was stopped by Ray.

Ray shook Walls’ hand and thanked him for his help and patience, which has rivaled the size of the Mojave Desert during Ray’s difficult conversion to left field.

Wally Joyner, Jack Howell and Jim Eppard also warmly bade Walls farewell and before he could make it to the tunnel leading out of the clubhouse, Walls was in tears.

“Old men cry,” said Walls, rubbing his eyes. “These kids are something else. Sometimes, they really get to me. And if you think there’s anything else to life besides that, you’re crazy.”

After accepting a towel and a pat on the back from third base coach Moose Stubing, Walls said he was proud of the progress Ray has made in the last month.

“It’s been like (manure) and ice cream, the improvement he’s made,” Walls said. “Sometimes, it doesn’t show until 6 weeks down the line but, in my estimation, he’s really caught on to charging the ball, releasing the ball and his fielding has gotten better. He accepted every thing I told him very well.”

Said Ray: “He came in here and worked hard to help me. He feels like I’m his protege and I’m sure he feels good about what we’ve done.

“He strives for excellence and if you ever get lackadaisical or start to take things for granted, he pumps you up and gets you going. He’s a good guy.”

Walls returned to Arizona, where he will spend the rest of the week at the Angels’ minor league camp. A Scottsdale resident, Walls said he has been asked by the Angels to fly into Anaheim periodically during the regular season for updates on Ray and the other Angel outfielders.

“I’ll be back from time to time,” he said.

Maybe In May: That appears to be the most optimistic forecast for Greg Minton’s return to the Angel bullpen, after Wednesday’s announcement that Minton will not pick up a baseball for the next 10 days to 2 weeks.

After throwing at about three-quarter speed for 12 minutes Tuesday, Minton experienced more pain in his right elbow and has been told by trainers to give the arm some rest before resuming rehabilitation.

Minton, who was put on the 15-day disabled list Monday, will not accompany the club to Chicago for the opening series of the regular season. He is scheduled to have the elbow re-examined by team physician Lewis Yocum Sunday in Anaheim.

Angel Notes

The Angels and the Cleveland Indians made a minor-league trade Wednesday, with the Angels acquiring 23-year old utility infielder Junior Noboa for 26-year-old outfielder Ted Milner. Noboa, who began his professional baseball career at 16, was the youngest player in the major leagues in 1984 when, at 19, he spent 23 games with the Indians. In 1987, Noboa played 39 more game with Cleveland, batting .225 with 7 RBIs in 80 at-bats. He can play second base, third base and shortstop and is regarded as a good fielder. Noboa will begin the season in Edmonton, but his acquisition now gives the Angels three utility infielders with big league experience--Gus Polidor and Chico Walker being the others--which could factor significantly into Angel General Manager Mike Port’s ongoing trade discussions.

The Angels concluded their Palm Springs schedule with a 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres in 11 innings. Mark McLemore scored the winning run after stealing second base--on a pitchout--and sprinting home on a bloop single into shallow left-center by Johnny Ray. “Anything to get the game over with,” Ray said. “Nobody was hoping he’d score more than me. It was a long day at the office, especially getaway day.” . . . Mike Witt, the Angels’ opening-day pitcher, started Wednesday’s game and had his least effective outing of the spring: 6 innings, 9 hits, 4 earned runs, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts. “That wasn’t a real good outing for him,” Manager Cookie Rojas said. “He wasn’t as sharp as he has been but, hell, he’s pitched well the whole spring.” Witt finished with a 5-0 record and a 2.73 earned-run average in 7 exhibition starts.

Overall, the Angels were 14-12 in Cactus League games. . . . After taking today off, the Angels will open the Freeway Series Friday at Dodger Stadium. The Angels’ Dan Petry will oppose Tim Belcher.