Angels Put the Worst Behind : Infield Fulfills Promise in Win Over Oakland, 6-4

The Angels avoided their worst start since 1961 with a 6-4 victory over Oakland Sunday, but the game was more than the end to a three-game losing streak for Angel Manager Cookie Rojas. It was a confirmation of beliefs he refused to doubt, even as his team lost four of its first five games.

Starter Willie Fraser pitched 6 respectable innings, his bullpen managed to hold a lead for a change and the infield he says will be the best in baseball one day showed signs of fulfilling that promise, much to the delight of the 31,297 in Anaheim Stadium.

Second baseman Mark McLemore was 2 for 2 with 2 walks, 2 runs scored and a stolen base. Third baseman Jack Howell was 3 for 4 with 2 runs batted in, and shortstop Dick Schofield had a run-scoring single. First baseman Wally Joyner even got in the act with a walk and a run scored.

A lot of Angel players were glad to see Rojas get the job when Gene Mauch retired, but nobody was as pleased as McLemore. Rojas has worked with McLemore since 1985 and is more than just a mentor, he’s a friend, confidant and father figure.

McLemore, who earned a starting role in the spring of 1987, didn’t hold up all that well under the pressure of his rookie year and ended up being sent down to Palm Springs for a few days in late August when his batting average fell below .220.

He had another good spring this year, and was not only named the starting second baseman but also was installed as leadoff hitter. So far, he has responded with a .333 average with 5 walks and 5 runs scored.

“He had to come in and fill the shoes of Bobby Grich last year and that’s a lot of pressure,” Rojas said. “We expect too much from kids out of the minors today. He just had to gain some confidence.

“He’s only going to get better, though. He’s playing outstanding now, and he’s going to be one of the premier second baseman in baseball one day. I said that three years ago, and I’ll say it again.”

McLemore got the Angels rolling with a leadoff triple in the first inning, and was stranded. But the Angels came back for two runs off A’s starter Bob Welch in the second. Tony Armas, who started in left field, opened with a double to right-center and, one out later, Howell singled him home. Then, Welch committed the first of his three balks, and Schofield singled to score Howell from second.

McLemore walked to open the third inning and the threat of his speed manufactured another run for the Angels. Welch balked him to second. McLemore took third on a fly out by Chili Davis and then scored when he danced down the third base line and Welch stepped off the rubber for balk No. 3.

“I’m more confident now and more aggressive,” McLemore said. “I don’t even want to talk about last year, but let’s just say I’m a lot more relaxed and comfortable this time around. And leading off is fun because you feel so involved in the game.”

He was certainly in the middle of this one. The A’s got to Fraser, who picked up the win in his first start of the year, for one run in the third on singles by Carney Lansford and Dave Parker. And they rallied for a 3-3 tie on Jose Canseco’s two-run homer in the fifth, his third of the year.

Butch Wynegar, getting a start at catcher, opened the Angels’ fifth with a double to right. Wynegar took third when Schofield grounded out, and then McLemore worked Welch for his second walk. Welch didn’t balk this time, but he didn’t hold McLemore on very well, either, and McLemore stole second. Wynegar scored on Devon White’s sacrifice fly, and McLemore came around on Davis’ single to center.

Mark McGwire’s solo homer to right off reliever Ray Krawczyk in the eighth made it a one-run game for a half inning until Howell’s two-out single to right scored Joyner in the bottom of the eighth.

DeWayne Buice came on to pitch the ninth and got his first save of the year. He struck out Tony Phillips to start the inning and then gave up a double to Lansford. But he struck out Canseco and Parker to end the game.

“We played them tough all three games, but that wouldn’t be much consolation if they’d have swept us,” Howell said.

Howell, who became the Angels’ starting third baseman when Doug DeCinces was released last year, can relate to McLemore’s situation.

“It feels great to be playing every day in the same position,” he said. “It also feels good to be out there playing with the same guys I’ve played with for a number of years (in the minors). We’re all back together up here.”

Howell could do little more than revel in the infield reunion for the first week of this season, though. He came into Sunday’s game with a .133 average and did not have an RBI.

“I left four guys on base last night,” he said, “but I knew if I just stayed confident and kept swinging good things would happen.”

Those are words that Rojas would like to see every Angel player live by. And Sunday’s game, he said, was a testament to their truth.

Angel Notes

A combined total of 21 balks were called on the Angels and their opponents last year. In the Angels’ first 6 games this season, 11 balks have been called. “The new rule is obviously bothering a lot of pitchers,” Mark McLemore said, without a trace of sympathy in his voice. “They’ve been getting away with not coming to a complete stop for so long, they’re really having trouble with it. It’s a big advantage for a baserunner because it’s so much easier to read a guy if he has to stop.” And now, for the pitcher’s perspective. “It’s a beautiful game the way it is,” reliever DeWayne Buice said. “Why don’t they just leave it alone.” . . . Tony Armas got his first start in left and Bill Buckner got his first start at designated hitter Sunday. Brian Downing, the usual DH, has a sore throat and Johnny Ray, who is the No. 1 left fielder, has a slight muscle pull in his rib cage, but Manager Cookie Rojas says he intends to use his whole roster this year. “In 162 games, you’re going to have to play your whole club,” Rojas said. “You have to keep everybody sharp. It was a day game after a night game, but it wasn’t a case of resting guys. I’m just trying to keep these other guys sharp.” . . . Buckner, for one, was sharper as a pinch-hitter. He had five RBIs in four pinch-hit appearances before Sunday. Sunday, he was 0 for 4, including one bizarre out when he hit a high fly ball to right that A’s right fielder Jose Canseco lost in the high sky. Center fielder Stan Javier realized Canseco’s plight soon enough to sprint over and make a sprawling catch. . . . Oakland starter Bob Welch was removed in the sixth inning Sunday because of a strained right thigh muscle. The injury is not believed to be serious. . . . Javier reached first base in a most unusual manner in the eighth. He struck out on a high fastball from Ray Krawczyk, but the pitch tipped off the top of Wynegar’s glove and ended up on top of the screen. He was awarded first because the ball was out of play.