Chili Has a Night to Remember, but Loss to the Tigers Spoils It

It was a game Angel designated hitter Chili Davis should have been able to savor.

Saturday night, Davis hit two home runs, including one that landed deep into the right-center field bleachers in the sixth inning. He showed some offensive versatility, bunting for a single in the second inning and scoring three runs on the night.

But in the clubhouse afterward, Davis had the same blank look on his face as his teammates had following the Angels’ 9-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers before 50,527 in Anaheim Stadium.

“It feels good to hit the ball hard a couple of times, but I wish we could have won the game,” said Davis, whose team failed to capitalize on an opportunity to move within 7 1/2 games of the first-place Oakland Athletics.

“But the way I look at it, these guys have been carrying me most of the year, Lance (Parrish) and Wally (Joyner). Someone else has got to do something eventually.”

It was Fireworks Night at Anaheim Stadium, but most of the Angels, with the exception of Davis, were firing duds against Tiger starter Jeff Robinson.

Robinson, who played at Azusa Pacific College and El Cajon Christian High School, had a career 3-0 record and 1.59 earned-run average against the Angels entering the game.

Robinson wasn’t as spectacular as he was in 1988, when he registered 10-1, 6-1 and 6-0 victories against the Angels, but the right-hander still got the victory, allowing seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Jerry Don Gleaton and Mike Henneman allowed three hits in the remaining 3 1/3 innings.

“Historically, I don’t ever remember hitting Robinson well--he’s the toughest pitcher on their staff for me to hit,” said Davis, who had two hits in 10 previous at-bats against Robinson. “He has good stuff--a decent fastball and good off-speed pitches to go with it.”

But Davis had Robinson’s number Saturday night. He surprised him in the second inning, laying a bunt toward third base for a single.

“I used to lead off when I was a rookie,” Davis said. “I’ve always been able to bunt.”

In the fourth, Davis hit a home run over the center field fence off Robinson.

And then Davis hit a Robinson pitch deep into the right-field bleachers in the sixth inning. One batter later, Robinson came out of the game.

It marked the 13th time in his nine-year, major league career that Davis has hit two home runs in a game and the fifth time he has accomplished the feat as an Angel. Davis last hit two home runs in a game Aug. 4, 1989 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The three-for-four performance Saturday night also helped Davis snap out of a slump in which he had just five hits in his last 34 at-bats (.147) going into Friday night’s game.

But Davis walked and doubled in two-at bats Friday, and lifted his average to .272 with Saturday night’s performance. He has nine home runs and 34 RBIs.

“I didn’t even know I was in a slump,” Davis said. “I think I’ve been swinging the bat pretty well. I haven’t been striking out and I’ve been walking a lot. Hits just haven’t been falling in. For me, it was nothing to worry about. It was just a matter of time.”