Rookie’s 4 RBIs Power Angels, 9-4

Lee Stevens was not quite 3 when Bert Blyleven made his major league pitching debut in June of 1970. Stevens has grown up since then, but Blyleven has only grown a beard.

Stevens’ first major league home run helped Blyleven earn the 279th victory of his career Friday, providing the first three runs as the Angels beat the Indians, 9-4, at Anaheim Stadium.

Blyleven (8-5) lasted only five innings, giving up three earned runs and 10 hits before yielding to Mike Fetters, but it was enough for the Angels’ chief prankster to get his first victory in five starts since June 21.

Blyleven, 39, acknowledged that he was lucky to win, but Angel Manager Doug Rader was somewhat more charitable. “The bottom line is that the kid won,” he said, before realizing his error. “Our elderly child. Our aging adolescent, however you want to say it.”

Stevens acknowledged feeling some awe when he became a teammate of players he had always watched from afar. But he showed no respect for a changeup thrown by Bud Black (8-5) in the first inning, lining it off the facing of the terrace-level seats in right-center field. That ended Black’s streak of 23 1/3 scoreless innings and made Stevens the first left-handed Angel hitter to homer off a left-handed pitcher since Wally Joyner did it against Milwaukee’s Tony Fossas May 27.

“It’s kind of weird playing with players I’ve seen on TV over the years,” said Stevens, who drove in a run in the sixth as the Angels scored four runs.

“Going out there and seeing Keith Hernandez (Cleveland’s first baseman) especially. But once you get out there, you realize you’re on the same field and you’ve just got to do your job.”

The bullpen did its job in two aspects Friday. First, the relievers coaxed Stevens’ home run ball away from a fan, who had caught it after Cleveland’s Mitch Webster retrieved the ricochet and tossed it into the stands.

“The guys in the bullpen traded a different ball for it,” Stevens said. “I’m real happy they did. I’m sure I’ll keep it forever.”

The bullpen’s more traditional role was filled honorably by Fetters, who gave up only two hits in four innings to earn his first career save--in the majors or minors--and the bullpen’s first save in 15 games since July 2.

“I saw that, and that makes it great to get my first save and the first in a while for the bullpen,” Fetters said. “The offense was outstanding, and I felt good. My arm strength was there.”

Stevens’ strength in lining Black’s pitch 390 feet was impressive, but Rader was equally impressed by the rookie’s ability to hit a changeup. “There’s no way in the world he’s looking for that,” Rader said of Stevens, who was promoted from triple-A Edmonton Monday. “When you’re in that kind of position physically to hit that pitch, able to handle it, you’re pretty well locked in.”

Despite the early lead provided by Stevens, the game wasn’t a lock for the Angels. Cleveland came back with a run in the second on three consecutive singles, to which the Angels replied with a run in the bottom of the second on Donnie Hill’s RBI single. The Indians scored twice in the third to pull to 4-3, but Brian Downing’s chop-double down the right-field line scored Lance Parrish to make the score 5-3.

Cleveland scored again in the fifth against Blyleven, who failed to go more than five innings for the second game in a row. But the Angels got to Black and Steve Olin for four in the sixth, an inning highlighted by Parrish’s two-run double and Stevens’ RBI on a fielding error by Hernandez groundout that allowed Dave Winfield to score from third.

“I expect a lot out of myself, more than five innings,” Blyleven said, “but it seemed like the guys picked me up and every time I made a mistake, the offense was there to pick me up. . . . When you give up 10 hits in five innings, you can’t say every pitch was good. I was very fortunate to be on the winning side. Mike Fetters really picked me up.

“I’ve played 20 years and I know there’s not too many wins that come this way. You have to appreciate them. Very nice. Wins are very hard to get in the big leagues. Anybody could lose here but not everybody can win here.”

Angel Notes

Dave Winfield declined to comment on remarks by New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner during Steinbrenner’s testimony before Commissioner Fay Vincent. The transcripts of Steinbrenner’s remarks were made public this week. Among the reasons Steinbrenner said he paid gambler Howard Spira $40,000 was for Spira to uncover damaging information about Winfield and the charitable foundation Winfield oversaw when he played in New York.

Winfield, who acknowledged that he has read the transcripts, said he would release a statement when Vincent issues a ruling. Vincent is expected to announce his action, if any, within a week.

Game 93 brought lineup 92 for the Angels, with Johnny Ray hitting seventh and Dante Bichette hitting eighth. “Just trying to spread out the offense a little bit,” Manager Doug Rader said. “I’m trying to figure out a way to play some offense for more than just a few innings a game.”

The Angels are batting .248, tied with Baltimore for the league’s lowest. Their 332 RBIs rank 13th.

Bob McClure threw for 20 minutes and felt excellent, according to trainer Rick Smith. The next step for McClure, who has been sidelined all season because of a sore left elbow, would be pitching in simulated games or a rehabilitation assignment. Smith said infielder Mark McLemore has nearly recovered from a sprained right wrist.