Angels Win With Finley Pitching In

Angel Manager Cookie Rojas was asked Tuesday afternoon what it would take to transform his struggling team into a winner.

“Pitching, defense, speed and hitting,” he said without a trace of a smile.

Well, one out of four isn’t much, but it was good enough for a 1-0 victory over Texas Tuesday night in front of 22,549 at Arlington Stadium. Left-hander Chuck Finley turned in what he called his best performance of the year and finished one out shy of picking up his first major league shutout.

Actually, he pitched well enough to record 28 outs instead of 26, but a couple of easy fly balls to center were botched as the Angels continue to play some embarrassing defense.

Ranger right-hander Charlie Hough, who went the distance and allowed just five hits, gave up a solo home run to Brian Downing in the sixth inning. But Finley also yielded just five hits and did not walk a batter while striking out seven, tying his career high for strikeouts.

“Finley pitched a great game,” Texas Manager Bobby Valentine said. “He was one pitch better than Charlie tonight, and sometimes you have to tip your hat to the opposition.”

Angel first baseman Wally Joyner walked into the clubhouse after the game and proclaimed, “Just another easy win.”

He was being facetious, folks.

Ranger shortstop Scott Fletcher opened the ninth with a single to right. Finley then got Ruben Sierra to hit a fly ball to left-center. Left fielder George Hendrick caught it--but anyone who has seen the Angels’ outfield play the last couple of nights knows a routine fly ball isn’t always a routine out.

Pete Incaviglia then hit a shot to right that was about 10 feet outside the foul pole before he struck out on a wicked curveball. But Steve Buechele singled to center, sending pinch-runner Cecil Espy around to third, and Rojas decided to bring in Bryan Harvey. Harvey has been the Angels’ best reliever, but he failed to hold a three-run lead in his last outing. This time, however, he struck out pinch-hitter Pete O’Brien to earn his fourth save.

“You’d always like to finish what you start, but you can’t argue with Harv’s numbers,” said Finley, whose numbers (4-7) should be much better. He has a 3.78 earned-run average.

The Angels have averaged just 3.2 runs per game in Finley’s 12 starts this season and Rojas said Finley could easily be 8-3 now. Finley, who was changed from reliever to starter late last year, continues to be the Angels’ most consistent starter.

“I’ve had some games that were pretty tough,” he admitted, “but I’m just glad to be in there every fifth day. I feel I’m learning about myself. I’m learning how to pitch, and things are clicking.”

In the outfield, however, things are still clanking . . . or, even worse, silent.

Starting center fielder Tony Armas simply dropped an easy fly ball by Geno Petralli in the third, and Petralli ended up on second. But Finley got Jerry Browne to ground out and Bob Brower to fly to right.

Then, with two out in the eighth, Browne hit a fly ball to left-center. Chico Walker--who took over in center after Armas told Rojas he had a sinus headache--and George Hendrick stood about 5 feet apart and watched the ball drop between them for a double. Brower lined to right to end the inning, though.

“That was scary,” Rojas said. “Two guys are calling for it and then they both stop. I don’t care if they collide, but they can’t just let it go.”

Earlier this year, that might have been enough to rattle Finley, but the 25-year-old is a different pitcher these days.

“It was a freak play, and you can’t let it get you down,” he said. “In the past, well, I can’t say that it would’ve bothered me, but I think I’ve matured. This time I just told myself I was going to pick my teammates up.

“In games like these, every pitch is more or less crucial. I was throwing the curveball for strikes and putting it where I wanted it, and that was the key.”

Finley didn’t allow a hit until the fifth when Mike Stanley grounded a single up the middle with two outs. Petralli followed with a drive down the right-field line that bounced once and hit the foul pole. The ground-rule double probably cost the Rangers a run and Finley kept the shutout alive by getting Browne to ground to short.

Hough held the Angels hitless through three, but they loaded the bases in the fourth. Downing led off with a single to center. Two outs later, Chili Davis walked and Hendrick beat out a slow roller to short, but Jack Howell struck out looking.

Downing said he had seen his share of “nasty” knuckleballs from Hough, but he finally got one he could handle in the sixth and hit it well up into the seats in left.

“We gave them some extra outs and that rolled the lineup around to where Incaviglia and Parrish, or O’Brien hitting for him, got one more chance,” Downing said. “But we got what we need most when were struggling like this, and that’s a tremendous pitching performance.”

Angel Notes

How bad have things been going for the Angels? You decide. The Angels signed outfielder Thad Bosley to a contract with their triple-A affiliate Edmonton Tuesday. Bosley, 31, was released May 27 by Kansas City after hitting .190 with 2 RBIs in 15 games with the Royals. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in two months,” said Manager Cookie Rojas when told of the acquisition after Tuesday’s game. “As soon as he’s ready, he’ll be up here. We’ve got to get some help.” Bosley began the season with a .290 career average with 6 homers and 33 RBIs as a pinch-hitter. Bosley has played with five clubs--including the Angels in 1977--during eight major league seasons.

The Angels had a chance to expand their lead in the eighth, but a decision by Rojas ended the threat. Bob Boone walked and Dick Schofield singled to center with Boone stopping at second. Brian Downing worked Hough to a 3-2 count and Rojas called for a hit-and-run play. Downing struck out swinging and Ranger catcher Geno Petralli threw Boone out by 30 feet. “I was trying to stay out of the double play,” Rojas said. The Rangers got one anyway, though. . . . Tuesday was not a great day for Tony Armas. The Angel center fielder woke up with a sinus headache and then had his bat broken in half by coach Joe Coleman on his first swing during batting practice, which brought on some jeers from his teammates. Things didn’t get better with nightfall. He struck out in the third and then dropped that easy fly ball by Petralli for a two-base error in the bottom of the inning.