Polonia Plays Field, His Three Hits Help the Angels Win, 6-4

When he’s in the Angels’ lineup as the designated hitter, Luis Polonia merely exists. Only when he plays the outfield does he feel completely alive, a feeling he has enjoyed less frequently than he expected when he was acquired from the New York Yankees on April 29.

“I like to see some action,” Polonia said. “I like to get my blood going. I cannot get my blood going when I’m DHing. I don’t mind once in a while, but I cannot improve if I don’t play every day.”

At the plate, he needs little improvement. Polonia, who played his second consecutive game in left field Tuesday--his first back-to-back starts since May 9 and 10--contributed three hits and two runs batted in as the Angels prevailed over the Royals, 6-4.

“He was very much instrumental in our offense early in the game,” Angel Manager Doug Rader said. “I guess you could give him credit for four runs early.”

But Polonia has the potential for giving back that many. His defensive liabilities are no secret, and they were obvious again Tuesday. Every ball hit to left was an adventure, none more so than the sixth-inning triple by Kurt Stillwell that caromed away from an over-eager Polonia. It drove in the Royals’ last two runs and helped finish Mark Langston.

“The way they were hitting the ball, whoever was there was going to have some problems,” Polonia said. “You’ve just got to keep going after the ball and keep it inside the ballpark.”

That wasn’t as ridiculous as it sounded on a night when Langston (4-5) freely acknowledged that he had little going for him. Not once in his six innings did he retire the Royals in order, allowing 11 hits--equaling the total he allowed in his last two games--and two walks. Mark Eichhorn allowed three hits as the setup man for Bryan Harvey, who pitched a perfect ninth to earn his sixth save of the season, ending the game after 3 hours 15 minutes.

“I struggled the whole game. I was very fortunate to get the offense that we did,” Langston said. “I had nothing and I came out on top. That’s how goofy this game is.”

The Angels staked him to an immediate 3-0 lead off Royal starter Richard Dotson (0-4) on a triple by Polonia, a single by Joyner and Chili Davis’ two-run home run--his second homer in three games.

Polonia’s single in the second drove in Rick Schu with the fourth Angel run, but the Royals chipped away for single runs in the second and third. Polonia’s second RBI-single, again scoring Schu, gave the Angels a 5-2 lead in the fourth.

“He’s very dangerous. He’s a good little hitter,” Rader said. “He’s an ideal hitter to play on this (artificial) surface.”

Polonia, who took into the game a .315 career average against the Royals, agreed that Royals Stadium suits him perfectly.

“This is the best ballpark for me. I’m having a lot of success and a couple of hits every time I play here,” he said. “The turf helps. I feel comfortable here.

“It feels pretty good being in there for two straight nights, getting the chance to play two games in a row, but I know things keep changing, and I have to keep hitting. I just have to keep swinging, and whatever happens, happens.”

As it happened, Polonia was removed for a defensive replacement in the bottom of the seventh inning, after the Royals crept to within two runs.

But Eichhorn’s two scoreless innings and Harvey’s strong close clinched the victory, which left the Angels a game below .500 (26-27) for the fifth time in the last 10 days.

“We’re going to get to .500 (today). I hope,” said Harvey, who credited bullpen coach Joe Coleman for helping slow his delivery and spark his recent success.

Harvey has saved the Angels’ last two victories and has struck out 16 batters in his last 12 1/3 innings.

“Nothing’s for sure,” Harvey added, “but we’re going to give it all we got.”

Polonia is more than willing to give all he has. He discussed his situation with Rader last weekend in Texas, and decided he can wait while Rader sorts through his crowded outfield.

“I understand the situation. I told him I don’t mind DHing at times, but I told him I want him to put me in the field,” Polonia said. “I’m patient. I’ve been patient for 3 1/2 years waiting for somebody to put me out there every day. Nobody has done that. I just hope that changes soon.”

Angel Notes

Shortstop Dick Schofield returned early from his rehabilitation assignment with triple-A Edmonton and probably will be activated today. He didn’t finish his scheduled week’s stay because he was able to get in enough innings and at-bats to get reacclimated to playing.

“I’m feeling good,” said Schofield, who took batting and fielding practice before Tuesday’s game and was pronounced fit by the Angels’ trainers. “I played nine the last two nights and it’s still attached. The first couple nights I felt rusty, but the last two I felt pretty comfortable. The first couple I had no idea what I was doing.”

Gary DiSarcina, the likely candidate for a return to Edmonton when Schofield comes off the disabled list, doubled his hit total Tuesday with a pair of singles. “The more at-bats, the better I’m feeling,” he said. Asked whether the sight of Schofield was the spark to his offensive improvement, DiSarcina smiled. “No, I was glad to see him back,” DiSarcina said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I guess they’ll make a decision soon.”

Mark Langston has gone 13 starts without a complete game, the longest drought of his career. . . . Royal center fielder Bo Jackson was hitless in five at-bats and struck out four times, ending his 10-game hitting streak. . . . George Brett was scratched from the Royals’ lineup because of the flu. . . . Dave Winfield returned to the Angels’ lineup after missing Monday’s game because of tightness in his upper back. “I was taking extra BP and I took too much extra,” said Winfield, who was one for four. . . . Jack Howell (sprained left knee) should be ready to play Friday when the Angels return home. Infielder Donnie Hill (strained right shoulder) is also expected to be healthy.