Downing Gives Angels Relief, Victory

As fast as the Angels could score runs, their bullpen seemed intent on giving them back.

They narrowly won a ridiculous race against their own relievers, 8-7, and only because Brian Downing slammed a home run off Duane Ward (1-4) into the left-field seats with one out in the ninth inning.

The Angels had built a 3-0 lead for starter Bert Blyleven only to fall behind, 4-3. They came back by hitting three home runs in the seventh, tying a club record. Dave Winfield’s second homer of the game, a two-run shot that tied him with Ralph Kiner for 33rd place on the all-time home run list with 369, and bases-empty homers by Downing and Dante Bichette (his second) put the Angels ahead, 7-4.

However, Cliff Young and Bryan Harvey couldn’t hold that lead.

Young, who was recalled Thursday from Triple A Edmonton, was in position to earn his first major-league victory. He was charged with two runs in the eighth inning, giving up Mark Whiten’s triple, Mookie Wilson’s sacrifice fly and a single to Tony Fernandez before yielding to Harvey, who gave up a run-scoring single to Luis Sojo.

In the ninth, Harvey gave up a single to Pat Borders and a walk to Whiten before Wilson tied the game with a double to center.

Former Blue Jay Mark Eichhorn--the sixth Angel pitcher--relieved Harvey after he walked Fernandez to load the bases. Bichette ended the inning with a fine ankle-high catch of Kelly Gruber’s sinking liner. That one out gave the victory to Eichhorn (1-4).

Downing’s seventh-inning home run, the 240th of his career, was only the fourth he has hit to right field. The last was on May 14, 1988 at Yankee Stadium. Winfield’s two-home run game was the 24th of his career and first as an Angel. He had one with the New York Yankees on April 21 against Texas. Bichette’s two-home run game was his first.

Luis Polonia led off the Angels’ first with a line drive triple into the right-field corner--his team-leading fourth--and scored when Donnie Hill grounded out to the left side.

The Angels stretched their lead to 3-0 with home runs in the second and third innings.

Bichette, who entered the game on a 1-for-16 streak, led off the second with a homer into the left-field seats, his ninth of the season but only his second since June 3.

Winfield’s 11th home run came on a 1-and-0 pitch in the third inning. The Angels could have scored more than one in the third but Polonia was picked off second base after he singled and was moved along by Hill’s sacrifice.

Blyleven worked easily until the fourth inning, when Kenny Williams, who replaced George Bell in the second after Bell aggravated a hand injury, hit a liner to center field that dropped in front of Bichette and rolled behind him for a double. Williams moved to third on Fred McGriff’s grounder to first. John Olerud’s walk put runners on first and third, but Greg Myers flied out to Polonia.

The Blue Jays scored in the fifth inning. Bichette made an outstanding play to catch Whiten’s leadoff fly to center, holding onto the ball as he collided with the fence, but no Angel could catch Wilson’s liner to right-center for a double. Wilson held second when Winfield made a fine catch on Liriano’s sinking liner, sliding forward on his knees as his body leaned backward, but Wilson scored on Fernandez’s bloop single to left.

The Angels loaded the bases with one out in the fifth but couldn’t score. After walking Hill, Winfield and Lance Parrish, Cerutti was relieved by right-hander Frank Wills. Downing hit Wills’ first pitch on the ground for a double play, ending the inning.

Blyleven was removed after five innings, and the Blue Jays quickly got to Scott Bailes, his replacement. Bailes struck out the first batter he faced, Williams, but was tagged for singles up the middle by McGriff and Olerud. Myers’ sacrifice fly to center field scored McGriff to cut the Angels’ lead to 3-2, and Whiten followed with a single to right. That moved Olerud to third and the Angels to take Bailes out of the game.

Willie Fraser came in to face Wilson, battling the veteran center fielder until Wilson walked to load the bases. Fraser ended the inning by getting Liriano to ground to first baseman Rick Schu. Bailes was charged with one run in two-thirds of an inning, nothing to brag about but better than his last outing last Sunday at Milwaukee. On that occasion, Bailes allowed a run in one-third of an inning.

Fraser hurt his own cause in the seventh by issuing a walk to Gruber. McGriff’s double to center scored Gruber and ended Fraser’s night. Young, making his major-league debut, gave up a bloop double to Olerud that gave Toronto a 4-3 lead.

Angel Notes

Chili Davis was scratched from the starting lineup during batting practice because of a lower back strain that has been slow to heal. Manager Doug Rader said Davis could have played but “it probably wouldn’t be the right thing to do.” He said Davis should be available today.

Luis Polonia, who had been upset at being omitted from the original lineup against the left-hander John Cerutti, was inserted into the lineup as the leadoff hitter, replacing Davis in left field. “At least I have a chance to show what I can do,” Polonia said.

First baseman Wally Joyner didn’t start for the third consecutive game, again bothered by tendinitis in his right knee. He is expected to be play today. With Joyner out, Rick Schu played first. He has played first, second, third and left field but is still one position behind Donnie Hill, who has played all four infield positions and pitched. “It’s going to be tough to catch up to him,” Schu said, “although when I strap on the (catcher’s) gear, he won’t be back there. But I don’t think I’ll be on the mound. He’s got better stuff than I do.”

Johnny Ray missed Saturday’s game to attend his father-in-law’s funeral in Oklahoma. He was expected to return in time for today’s game.

Former Angel Jim Fregosi heads the list of AL All-Stars who will play a team of NL All-Stars in today’s Old Timers’ Game. The contest will begin at 12:40 p.m. The AL will be managed by Hall of Famer Johnny Mize, with Dick Williams managing the NL. The Angels’ game against Toronto has been moved back to 2 p.m.

George Bell left the game after injuring his hand leg running out a ground ball in the second inning.