Langston’s Confidence Gets a Boost

Seattle left-hander Mark Langston probably could see his worst nightmare recurring before his eyes at Anaheim Stadium Monday night.

Against the Angels in the Kingdome last Wednesday, Langston had a 7-2 lead before self-destructing. Going into the sixth, he still led, 7-4, but he gave up a pair of two-run homers, allowing the Angels to tie the game. He was chased without getting a decision in a game the Mariners eventually won, 8-7.

Against the Angels Monday night, Langston had a no-hitter through four innings. In the seventh, with Seattle leading 3-1, Angels left-fielder Tony Armas hit a 1-1 pitch into the left-field seats for his seventh home run of the year. It tied the score at 3-3, and it looked as though lightning was striking for the second time in five days.

“His arm was stiff, really stiff,” Seattle Manager Jim Snyder said. “He tried to pinch one inside on him, but it didn’t break in far enough. It caught the corner, and (Armas) went with it.”

The instant replay of Wednesday’s debacle left Langston momentarily shell-shocked, Snyder said.

“He got stunned a bit,” Snyder said. “It threw him a little, you could tell.”

But this time, Langston (8-9) recovered to earn the victory, 4-3, over the Angels. In the eighth, Seattle’s Jay Buhner slapped the game-winning hit into center. Langston escaped with his first victory since he pitched a four-hitter in Cleveland on July 14.

Monday night, he allowed four hits, three walks and struck out five.

“It was a good outing for Mark,” Snyder said. “He pitched well almost the whole game. Take out that one inning, especially the pitch to Armas, and it was as good as he’s thrown in several weeks. From that standpoint, it was good for his confidence.”

Langston’s confidence has been so fragile in recent weeks that Snyder decided to take a chance by leaving his starter in to try to win the game. Langston responded by striking out the last four batters he faced.

“What an eighth inning,” Snyder said. “I gave him a chance to win it or lose it, and he responded. He redeemed himself pretty well.”

It has been an erratic season of good starts and bad finishes for Langston.

Entering Monday night’s game, his 169 strikeouts ranked second to Boston’s Roger Clemens. In one game, he struck out 16, which ties Clemens for the best in the American League this year.

But Langston seemingly cannot finish what he starts. Last season, en route to a 19-13 record and a 3.84 earned-run average, he recorded 14 complete games in 35 starts. This season, he has just four complete games in 24 starts.

“Hanging in there like this has to help his confidence,” Snyder said.