Money Can’t Buy Angel Happiness Once Again, 6-3

Based on salary, it was no contest. Mark Langston, who will earn $3 million this season, had Boston left-hander Tom Bolton by the hefty margin of $2.865 million. “I knew his purse looked a little better than mine,” Bolton said, smiling.

But Bolton’s performance Tuesday night looked a lot better than Langston’s. And because of that, the American League East-leading Red Sox beat the Angels, 6-3.

Bolton, a relief pitcher transformed into a starter by the pitching-poor Red Sox, gave up nine hits in 8 1/3 innings at Anaheim Stadium to help Boston win for the seventh time in eight games and maintain its two-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays. Langston (5-14) gave up two home runs, including a three-run blast in the sixth by Tom Brunansky, as he lost for the ninth time in his last 10 decisions.

“It’s real frustrating, considering the defense picked me up all night,” said Langston, who struck out two and walked two in six innings. “It’s time I picked them up . . . I just take every situation as it comes to me and try and make the pitches. It’s been ugly.”

For Bolton (6-1), Tuesday’s victory was a thing of beauty. Asked if he could have imagined that he would have a better record than Langston, whose $1.5-million signing bonus and 1990 salary of the same amount dwarfs Bolton’s $135,000 paycheck, the Red Sox pitcher laughed.

“If someone said that to me, I would have said, ‘You’ve got to lay off the booze,’ ” said Bolton, who was making his ninth major league start and fifth this season. “I wouldn’t have believed it. Mark is a great pitcher and I hadn’t done anything. I always felt I could if I got the opportunity, and I’m just glad I got a chance.”

Dave Winfield capitalized on his first chance against Bolton to get his 2,500th career hit, becoming the 66th major leaguer to reach that level and the second this season, after the Milwaukee Brewers’ Dave Parker. Winfield singled off the glove of second baseman Jody Reed in the first inning for the milestone and was given the ball as a souvenir.

“It’s another step along the road on a long journey,” said Winfield, who received a round of applause from the 29,262 fans after his feat was posted on the message board. “I appreciate this, but I don’t intend to rest too long here. I believe I can (get 3,000).”

Brian Downing, who led off the first inning with a single, was thrown out at the plate by Reed, but Lee Stevens’ single to left scored Devon White, who had walked and taken second on Winfield’s hit.

Boston matched that in the third on Tony Pena’s sixth home run of the season and took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on Ellis Burks’ double and Mike Greenwell’s single. Downing’s ninth home run of the season, into the left-field seats in the fifth, tied the score before Brunansky’s home run in the sixth.

Wade Boggs led off the inning with a double, and White robbed Burks of a two-run home run with a leaping catch in center. Greenwell grounded out, but Langston walked Dwight Evans. Brunansky, who had hit two home runs in 30 at-bats against Langston, hit a 2-and-2 fastball well beyond White’s reach and over the center-field fence.

“I know it’s easy to second-guess myself, but I went with a fastball down and away and he went out and got it,” Langston said.

It was one of the few fastballs Brunansky got from Langston all night, to Brunansky’s surprise.

“He didn’t have the fastball he normally does. He was throwing more breaking balls than I’d ever seen him throw,” said Brunansky, who grew up in West Covina and had about 20 friends and relatives at Anaheim Stadium. “We’ve had some good battles in the past. You always know he’s going to come at you with his best stuff. He had a good breaking ball tonight, and he went with his best pitch except for the home run.”

To see Bolton beat Langston, Brunansky said, was a big boost for the Red Sox.

“He’s been throwing like that ever since he’s started,” said Brunansky, whom the Red Sox acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals for relief pitcher Lee Smith May 4. “He’s been outstanding. To have someone come out of the blue like that is a real help.”

The Angels’ offense was no real help to Langston Tuesday, as has happened often this season. In his 14 losses, the Angels have scored 19 runs; they left the bases loaded in the first and scored one in the ninth before Rob Murphy struck out White to end the game.

“In two big-inning situations, we scored two runs,” Rader said. “They were opportunistic with two out and we weren’t.”

Angel Notes

Chili Davis, on the disabled list since July 14 because of a strained lower back, could be activated today. Manager Doug Rader planned to discuss a personnel move with General Manager Mike Port after Tuesday’s game. “Actually, I feel better than I did when I went on the DL,” said Davis, who was hitting .272 with 40 runs batted in when he was idled. “I told them I’m ready, so it’s up to them.”

AL strikeout and earned-run average leader Roger Clemens, scheduled to start against the Angels Thursday, might have his turn postponed until Friday at Seattle. “He just threw (165 3/8 pitches) last Saturday. He might need the extra day,” said Manager Joe Morgan. . . . Center fielder Devon White will switch from uniform number 30 to 39 today, anticipating that 30 will be retired by the Angels after the season in honor of Nolan Ryan. Wally Joyner, on the DL because of a broken right kneecap, went to visit relatives in Georgia for a few days. Trainer Ned Bergert said that wouldn’t hinder Joyner’s recovery because Joyner isn’t on a rehabilitation program.