Even in New Uniform, Petry Continues to Be One-Upped by Morris

For nine years, Dan Petry followed Jack Morris in the Tigers’ rotation, and it seemed that no matter how well he pitched, he never could wrest the unofficial title of best pitcher in Detroit away from Morris.

In 1982, Petry won 15 games and Morris won 17. Petry raised his total to 19 in ’83. So Morris won 20. In ‘84, Petry kept the pressure on with 18 victories, but Morris picked up 19. The next season, Petry won 15, but Morris won 16.

And so it went, season in and season out, with Petry always coming in second in their annual battle of one-upmanship.

Wednesday night, Petry followed Morris to the mound again, but this time it was after every half inning, and Petry was wearing a different uniform. The change of clothes didn’t change the outcome, though.

Petry, acquired by the Angels from Detroit in an off-season trade that sent Gary Pettis to the Tigers, turned in his best performance of the season. But then so did Morris. And as history has proven time and again, Morris’ best beats Petry’s best every time.

Petry pitched nine innings and allowed just one run. But Morris also went the distance, allowing just two hits as the Tigers beat the Angels, 1-0, before a crowd of 26,020 at Anaheim Stadium.

It was a dream-like experience for some of the principals:

--Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson said it was weird watching “the two best pitchers I’ve ever had go head-to-head.”

--Morris said he felt as if he was pitching “a simulated game in spring training.”

--Petry said, “It was a great scenario, Jack and I pitching, and I figured if I did the job, Jack would, too.”

For everyone else, it was just a dream of a game, the classic pitchers’ duel. Alan Trammell’s second-inning homer to deep left-center field gave Morris all the cushion he needed. And Mark McLemore’s third-inning, line-drive single to right removed any no-hit mystery. But the Angels did manage to provide some suspense in the ninth inning, pushing the tying run within 90 feet of home plate.

McLemore walked to open the inning, but Bill Buckner failed to get down a bunt and ended up forcing McLemore at second. Wally Joyner lined to center, but Chili Davis singled to right as Gus Polidor, running for Buckner, sprinted to third.

Anderson came out to the mound--at Morris’ request--and told the veteran right-hander to go after the hot-hitting Johnny Ray. Ray grounded to shortstop.

“You knew Jack wasn’t coming out,” Petry said. “Sparky wasn’t going to take him out, and Jack wouldn’t have left if his arm was dangling and bleeding.”

Morris, who has won more games (144) in the 1980s than any major league pitcher, had lost three in a row before Wednesday and his earned-run average had ballooned to 5.27. But it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that he stopped one short of tying the longest losing streak of his career on this evening. He ended the skid against a team he usually beats in a stadium where he almost always pitches well. Morris has a 12-4 career mark against the Angels and is 8-2 at Anaheim Stadium. This was his 20th career shutout.

“It was a great game,” Morris said. “One side of me is feeling for Dan. The other side is saying, ‘He’s in a different uniform now.’ Still, it was unusual to see a guy who’s been a teammate for my whole career, and a good friend, pitching against you. I feel for him, though; he pitched a helluva game.”

Petry, whose previous best outing was a seven-inning, no-decision stint against Oakland April 18, didn’t make many mistakes this time out, but he made one to Trammell. And he paid for it. Trammell drove a 3-2, down-the-middle, waist-high fastball well over the 386 sign in left-center.

“If anyone’s gonna beat me with a homer, I guess I’m glad it was Alan,” Petry said. “We broke in together in ’76 and we’re still close friends.”

Catcher Matt Nokes followed Trammell’s homer with a single to center, but Petry got out of the inning and allowed one hit in the third, fourth and fifth before retiring the side in order in the sixth.

Chet Lemon opened the seventh with a double down the left-field line, and it looked as if Petry might be in serious trouble when Tom Brookens attempted to sacrifice but bunted the ball over Petry’s head for a single. Pettis hit a sharp grounder to Joyner, who stepped on first and threw home in plenty of time to get Lemon trying to score. Petry walked Lou Whitaker intentionally and then got Darrell Evans on a line out to second.

Morris, meanwhile, was nearly invincible. He faltered only slightly in the eighth inning when he walked Bob Boone on four pitches with two out and none on. Morris snatched at the return throw from catcher Nokes after walking Boone and then channeled his disgust into striking out the next hitter, Dick Schofield, with a fastball on the outside corner.

He handled the challenge of facing Ray in the ninth with more of his usual bear-down determination.

Angel Manager Cookie Rojas pointed out that Buckner’s inability to bunt may have been the difference, but Petry thought Morris had more to do with this one than a missed bunt.

“I was hooked up with a pitcher whose record speaks for itself,” Petry said. “I can’t complain about our offense. If I did my job like he did his, then we’d still be out there. I just gave up one run too many.”

Petry said he had no extra incentives because of the pitching matchup, but he did admit that a victory would have been a little special.

“Premier pitchers like Jack are the best ones to beat,” Petry admitted, “Of course, that doesn’t make losing any better.”

Angel Notes

Designated hitter Brian Downing, on the disabled list with a rib injury, took an extended turn in the batting cage Wednesday afternoon and felt so good he surprised himself. “Two days ago, I was extremely doubtful about when I’d play again,” said Downing, who is eligible to come off the DL Thursday. “But I guess it’s the type of injury where it could turn around quickly.” Downing said he was unable to swing a bat--or even jog, for that matter--until Monday when he took a few swings in his back-yard batting cage. “I feel pretty good,” Downing said. “I took 20 minutes of hitting, alternating with Tony Armas, and I never felt like there was a chance of aggravating the injury. Before today, I was afraid I might do further damage and miss an extended period of time, but I was swinging hard and I was encouraged that it seemed to feel better with each swing.” Downing, who’s batting average (.111) has been hurting along with his ribs, said he also was pleased with the way the ball came off his bat for a change. “Before, when I was hurting, the ball wasn’t carrying at all.”

Butch Wynegar, who has 9 hits in his last 22 at bats (.409) and 4 RBIs in his last 4 games, drove in the go-ahead run with a pinch single as the Angels scored five runs in the ninth inning Tuesday night to beat Cleveland. “I think I’m about 3 for 30 lifetime as a pinch-hitter,” Wynegar said, “I was just praying that (Indian second baseman Julio) Franco wouldn’t get it when he dove for it.” The ball tipped off Franco’s glove and continued into center field and the Angels came back to win a game in which they had trailed in the ninth for the first time this season. Last year, they were 1-73 when they trailed after nine. “It was a long flight home,” Wynegar said with a sigh. Then he smiled and added, “But it could’ve been a lot longer.” . . . The beleaguered Angel bullpen has begun to record some outs and get out of some jams. In 30 innings of work prior to Wednesday’s game, Angel relief pitchers allowed only three earned runs, an earned-run average of 0.90. In their first 29 innings, they gave up 26 earned runs.