Howell Hits Homer in 10th as Angels Beat Indians, 2-1

Last year, Bryan Harvey got 17 saves in 24 chances. His strikeout-to-walk ratio was better than 3-to-1. His earned-run average was 2.13.

The man from Catawba, N.C., with the nice smile and easy demeanor found the big leagues fun.

This season, however, not much has come easy for the Angels’ No. 1 relief pitcher.

Tuesday night before 17,281 at Cleveland Stadium was yet another example as Harvey walked, threw a wild pitch and staggered to his 10th save in the Angels’ 2-1 victory over the Indians in 10 innings. Jack Howell’s third home run in four games, a 10th-inning shot to center off just-recalled Neil Allen, helped carry the Angels to their fourth consecutive victory. But it was the bottom of the inning that left the more-lasting impression.

Rookie Rich Monteleone, the winning pitcher, gave up a hit to second baseman Jerry Browne and then almost hit Dave Hengel with his next pitch. That prompted Manager Doug Rader to summon Harvey.

Last season, Harvey probably would have dispatched the next three hitters in short order--a couple of strikeouts with maybe a weak ground ball mixed in.

Not this year.

First, Harvey threw a pitch to the backstop while warming up. He got Hengel to pop up to shortstop, but then, with Joe Carter batting, he bounced a forkball six feet in front of home plate and off the mask of catcher Lance Parrish for a wild pitch that allowed the tying run to move to second.

After Carter walked on four pitches, Pete O’Brien flied to center. Then Cory Snyder hit a hooking line drive that curved two feet foul of being a game-winning double. With the count 2-and-2, Harvey bounced another forkball, but Parrish was able to keep this one in front of him. And finally, with the Angel bench heaving a collective sigh of relief, Harvey struck out Snyder on a fastball.

“I’m struggling, but I seem to be able to get out of it,” Harvey said, managing a smile. “I’m gonna have to find a groove before much longer, though. I’m just walking too many guys.

“With the forkball, you know there’s a chance that you might bounce it. But you can’t let off on one or they’ll hit it out of the park. I guess that’s the thing that makes it so tough to hit. If the pitcher doesn’t know where it’s going, how can the hitter?”

Howell didn’t have that problem with Allen’s 1-and-1 fastball. He was right on it and so the Cleveland right-hander, who was called up from triple-A Colorado Springs Monday, didn’t have much luck against his first major league batter this year.

Not too long ago, some wondered if Howell fit that description. At the beginning of the month, Howell had a batting average in the .100s.

“It got to the point where I didn’t even look at my numbers . . . because there weren’t very many to look at,” Howell said. “It’s hard to remember when you’re hitting .100 after 100 at-bats that you still have 400 more at-bats to go.”

But with the Angels winning, Howell remained in the lineup and persevered. Now, his diligence is paying off.

“I definitely feel more comfortable than I have the whole year, which isn’t saying all that much,” Howell said. “I’ve always been a streak hitter.”

Speaking of streaks, Bert Blyleven remains in his almost-incredible groove. The veteran right-hander’s ERA dropped to 2.30, second best in the league to Oakland’s Mike Moore (2.23). Blyleven pitched 6 2/3 innings Tuesday night and left for the second consecutive game with the score tied, 1-1.

Blyleven retired nine in a row--three via the strikeout--before giving up a single to Browne and a walk to Hengel with two out in the seventh.

A tough time to be removed?

“It was hot out there, I couldn’t breathe and Joe Carter was up,” Blyleven said. “I was ready to come out.”

Blyleven appeared to be headed for a much earlier exit, but his tightrope act in the first inning kept him--and his team--in the game.

He survived a shaky first with only one Indian scoring after Cleveland had loaded the bases on three hits with no outs.

Browne singled to left, Oddibe McDowell bunted safely for the 11th time in 25 attempts this season and Carter lined a single to center.

O’Brien’s warning-track fly ball to right gave the Indians a 1-0 lead. Snyder followed with a grounder to third and Howell’s throw to the plate was in time to get McDowell, who tried to score standing up.

McDowell ended up sitting down after a collision with Parrish and then ended up sitting on the bench when he was removed from the game with a bruised left thigh.

Blyleven struck out David Clark to end the inning.

The Angels tied the score, 1-1, in the second inning when Chili Davis homered against starter Bud Black, his eighth of the season.

Angel Notes

Reliever Greg Minton, who injured a tendon in his right elbow while warming up Friday night, said his arm was no longer sore, but doctors told him it would be a couple more days until the healing process was complete. “It was 3-0 on the hitter and I heard the (bullpen) phone ring,” Minton said. “I usually roll a couple of sliders (while warming up), but when I heard the phone ring, I tried to pop one before I went in.” Minton said the injury is the same one that bothered him last spring. He started the 1988 season on the disabled list and wasn’t activated until May 11.

More injury updates: Claudell Washington, who was removed from Friday night’s game with a shin injury, was not in Tuesday’s lineup but was “available,” according to trainer Ned Bergert. The injury was originally diagnosed as a cramp, but Washington had a series of insect bites on his shin and blood tests revealed an infection. Catcher Lance Parrish, who “felt a twinge (in his back) on a pick-off throw to third” Thursday night, was back in the lineup. Second baseman Johnny Ray continues to play with a sprained big toe.