Angels’ Witt Reels In Rangers Again, 3-0

Mike Witt and the Texas Rangers are forever linked in baseball history because of that Arlington afternoon in 1984 when Witt faced 27 batters and retired them all in order.

Once you attain perfection, however, the only direction left is down, as Witt has discovered in this, his most imperfect big league season.

A week ago, Witt was saddled with a 2-7 record and a 5.38 earned-run average, the supposed ace on a team definitely in the hole. Questions began to surface.

Is Witt’s arm OK?

Has Witt lost it?

Whatever possessed the Angels to pay this man $1.4 million a year in the first place?

Just then, in the nick of time, the Rangers rode into the picture again. Thanks to the luck of the schedule, Witt was able to make two starts against them. And with Tuesday night’s 3-0 shutout before 23,312 at Anaheim Stadium, Witt is 2-0 against Texas in 1988.

After beating the Rangers in Texas, 5-2, last week, Witt welcomed them to Anaheim with his second shutout of the season. No perfect game this time--Witt allowed four hits and three walks--but considering the circumstances, the result was nearly as meaningful to the Angels.

“Our big man is starting to get back on track,” said Angel Manager Cookie Rojas, whose team snapped a three-game losing streak. “Witt has pitched outstanding (in) three of the his last four games. If he pitches the way he did tonight, he’s going to win a lot more games for us this season.”

At the moment, Witt has won four. He needs three more to get back to .500.

But Tuesday’s performance at least enabled Witt to get his ERA back under 5.00, it’s now a more reasonable 4.64. And, most importantly, it enabled the Angels to take advantage of another meager offensive output.

The Angel managed just four hits against Texas pitchers Ray Hayward (4-4) and Mitch Williams, but Tony Armas’ fifth-inning home run was the only one Witt needed. Chico Walker’s run-scoring double in the same inning accounted for another run. Jack Howell scored the third in the eighth inning on a passed ball.

But Witt has been used to little support. During the early years of his Angel career, it was his calling card. He coped by shutting down the opposition most of the time--at least until last year’s All-Star break.

“Something happened after the All-Star game,” Witt acknowledged. Something like a 3-8 record after Aug. 1, making him 5-15 over his last four months before he got together again with Texas.

Witt called Tuesday’s outing “as good as I’ve been since last year’s All-Star break. “I felt good against Cleveland and Toronto (in early May) but gave up three runs in those games. I think, stuff-wise, I was better then, but tonight I was making my pitches and getting ahead of the hitters.

“It’s good to be consistent again. I’m not fighting myself out there.”

Witt has been unable to pinpoint his problem, but much of his recent slump can be attributed to the vacation taken by his once-peerless curveball.

“I have been pitching the outside corner (of the plate) for the past four, five years, but until I get my curveball back, I’ll have to adjust my pitching style.” The timing of Witt’s second shutout--he also blanked the Baltimore Orioles, 5-0, on May 28--was especially advantageous for the Angels, considering the current state of their offense. The Angels took a .243 team batting average into the game and started a lineup consisting of five hitters batting between .161 and .240.

Armas, batting .219 at game time, struck his third home run of the season with one out in the fifth inning. One out later, Howell walked and came home on a double into the gap in left-center by the .161-hitting Walker.

An assist by Texas was required for the Angels’ final run of the night. After Howell doubled off Hayward to open the eighth, Williams came on and immediately misfired a pickoff throw to second base. Howell advance to third on the error and scored on catcher Geno Petralli’s passed ball.

It wasn’t much, but for once, the Angels and Witt were both able to say it was enough.

Angel Notes

The Angels got some good news Tuesday in their case missing second basemen when the arthrogram performed on Johnny Ray’s sore right shoulder uncovered no rotator cuff tear. Dr. Lewis Yocum, who performed the examination, said Ray’s shoulder “showed signs of wear and tear from a dislocation he sustained in high school, but that’s normal. He’s still a little uncomfortable and will continue working out with Roger (Williams, Angel physical therapist), but there’s no imminent surgery.” Yocum said it’s possible Ray could return to the lineup by Thursday--”once the dye (from the arthrogram) is absorbed by his body.” Meanwhile, Mark McLemore is scheduled today to see a vascular surgeon, who will examine McLemore’s troublesome right elbow. McLemore regressed in his recovery from phlebitis (inflamed vein) Monday when the vein in his arm swelled up after a pregame throwing session. . . . Gus Polidor, unable to play because of a rib injury, was recalled from Edmonton Tuesday and placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday. Polidor was not responding to a cortisone injection he received on Saturday, so Yocum recommended he be moved to the disabled list.

The Angels were claiming victory in their five-year dispute with the city of Anaheim when a judge blocked the city’s plans to build a high-rise development on stadium parking lot. Angel owner Gene Autry had fought the development, claiming that reduced parking space would inconvenience fans, and threatened to move the franchise if the construction was approved. The crux of Judge Frank Domenichini’s decision was his ruling that the city had already granted the Angels the rights to the parking lot in 1964. “This is a great day for the California Angels,” Autry said. “It’s also a great day for our fans. The judge says we have a lease on the parking lot. There will be no high-rise parking on our lot. The developers have been stopped.” But not without a price. The dispute reportedly cost Anaheim Stadium Associates, a co-defendant in the Angel lawsuit, and the baseball club as much as $10 million in legal fees, with the city of Anaheim spending another $5-7 million over five years.