McCaskill Keeps Lid on Red Sox, Rumors

Kirk McCaskill flirted with disaster all night, escaping a bases-loaded jam here, scraping by after an error there, and then giving up an inside-the-park home run to 40-year-old Bill Buckner in one of the strangest plays in the 78-year history of Fenway Park.

Watching McCaskill dodge those problems in the Angels’ 3-1 victory over the Red Sox Wednesday bothered Angel Manager Doug Rader less than watching the right-hander dodge trade rumors that were reported as fact by a Boston television station Tuesday. Although McCaskill long ago realized he can’t stop his name from being mentioned in trades such as the one involving Ellis Burks Tuesday, Rader used that rumor as a rallying point--and a way of telling General Manager Mike Port that he doesn’t want McCaskill traded.

Rader railed and ranted, saying that speculation was “getting to the point where it’s irresponsible and affecting people in an adverse way,” and should stop. Port could do that by saying he won’t trade McCaskill, which so far, Port has not done.

“He hasn’t said anything,” McCaskill said, “and if he did, I probably wouldn’t be able to understand it.”

Port’s affection for long sentences studded with polysyllabic words often makes his thoughts difficult to comprehend. Not so for Rader or McCaskill Wednesday. When Raider wasn’t fretting about the trade talk, he was expressing relief at reaching .500 again (7-7) despite a spate of injuries and misfortune. McCaskill, who endured through five innings, giving up nine hits, walking two and facing 13 baserunners, talked of how lucky he was to leave behind so little damage.

Boston’s run resulted from Buckner’s long fly ball to right in the fourth inning, a shot Claudell Washington brushed with his glove only to lose it when he ran into the wall. Washington fell into the stands and the ball fell back onto the field, Buckner loping around the bases all the while and touching home while Washington was still upended in the seats. “My first one,” the former Dodger said of the inside-the-park home run, “and it’ll probably be my last.”

Washington was fortunate to suffer no more than a bruised right knee.

“I was in a daze,” said the right fielder, who was taken out of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. “If I hadn’t hit the wall, I think I would have had it. The wall was too small for me to see because I’m looking up.

“I hit my head on a chair or somebody’s leg as they were getting out of the way. I don’t know if I was totally conscious. I heard some people talking and a couple of our players. I was trying to get up and they kept trying to push me down (in fear that he had injured his head).”

McCaskill (2-0) worked one more inning before departing, leaving nine runners on in five innings. He loaded the bases in the first on two singles and a walk and sneaked out by getting Mike Greenwell and Tony Pena to sandwich fly balls to center around Dwight Evans’ popup. In the fourth, McCaskill loaded the bases after Buckner’s home run, giving up two hits and a walk. Jody Reed ended that threat by bouncing into a force play started by shortstop Kent Anderson.

“I’m struggling a little bit with my mechanics, rhythm and location. The only difference between now and a few years ago is that I don’t panic,” said McCaskill, who has coped with 30 baserunners in three starts and has given up only two earned runs. “I was extremely lucky to get out of that first inning. . . .

“I’ve been in a jam in every inning the whole year. I think I got a one-two-three inning once tonight and maybe one or two times before. I’m pitching too defensively because of my lack of rhythm and trouble with my location. I’m trying to pitch too fine. Believe me, I’m not trying to get into those situations.”

Nor does he want to be in the situation of joining another team.

“I’m not preoccupied with the trade stuff. I’ve made it clear to the Angels that I want to stay with the ballclub, and I don’t want to be pitching myself into a trade situation,” he said. “I constantly have to hear from my family and friends, ‘When are you going to get traded?’ But I’m not worried about it.”

The Angels have had other worries. This was only their second victory in their last seven games. They scratched out a run in the third on a pair of hits and a groundout by Washington and added two more in the fifth on back-to-back doubles by Lance Parrish and Jack Howell and a run-scoring single by Brian Downing. Mike Witt worked 2 2/3 innings before yielding to Mark Eichhorn, who earned his fourth save of the season.

Said Rader: “We’re 7-7 without a whole lot of offense and two very important people missing out of the bullpen (Greg Minton and Bob McClure). Devon White has been hurt, too. We’re very fortunate to be in the position we are.”

Angel Notes

An examination by Dr. Arthur Pappas and X-rays of Chuck Finley’s left arm showed no damage or bone spurs, leaving biceps tendinitis as the diagnosis for the twinges Finley has felt. Finley is taking anti-inflammatory medication and is scheduled to take his turn Saturday against the Yankees at New York.

Devon White (sore left thumb and ankle) made his first appearance since Saturday when he entered the game in the sixth in center field.

In addition to his home run, Bill Buckner--who was signed to a triple-A contract by the Red Sox and made the team in spring training--made a fine stop on Chili Davis’ liner in the first and an outstanding diving stop on Claudell Washington’s run-scoring grounder in the third. “I feel probably as good or better than any time in a long time,” he said. “I’ve got a little more quickness right now.” . . . Davis was ejected in the eighth inning for throwing his bat and his helmet after striking out.

Dick Schofield (strained hamstring) has been hitting but didn’t take ground balls in Boston because of the rain-slicked grass. Schofield substituted for hitting instructor Deron Johnson by hitting fungoes during batting practice Tuesday and Wednesday. Johnson left the team after the death of his father-in-law.