Fernandez Stymies Angels, 4-2 : Baseball: Rookie, less than three months out of junior college, pitches eight innings. Thigpen gets 42nd save of the season.

CHICAGO — Not even three months out of junior college and three weeks into his major league career, Chicago White Sox rookie Alex Fernandez had the poise, confidence and pitches to hold the Angels to two runs over five innings.

Then, he kicked it into gear.

Growing stronger as the game progressed, the 21-year-old rookie was impressive Thursday night in a 4-2 victory that moved the White Sox to within five games of the AL West-leading Oakland Athletics. In only his fifth start since being drafted out of Miami-Dade (Fla.) South Community College in June, Fernandez (2-1) struck out six and had the sense and stamina to make the last dozen or so of his 138 pitches his best.

“He threw harder in the eighth inning than the fifth or sixth,” White Sox Manager Jeff Torborg said after his team’s fourth victory in five games. “That was something.”

But it was no surprise to Angel Manager Doug Rader, who first saw Fernandez in 1986 as a Florida teen-ager when Rader was scouting for the Angels.

“He was almost this polished in high school, if you can believe that,” Rader said. “He’s got three outstanding pitches and another on the way. He’s got good poise and his location is very good. He’s going to be a very good pitcher.”

Fernandez allowed runs in the third and fifth innings and had a bit of a scare in the fifth when Lance Parrish’s fly ball to left--hit into the wind blowing from Lake Michigan--took left fielder Dan Pasqua within two strides of the wall.

“I couldn’t say that it was easy at all,” Fernandez said. “I know I have to battle on every pitch. I’m not the $6-Million Man, but I do get stronger as the game goes on. I get a second wind.”

He also got help in the ninth inning in the form of Bobby Thigpen’s 42nd save of the season, four short of the major league record set by Dave Righetti in 1986.

Angel starter Kirk McCaskill (9-9) battled control problems in his 5 2/3 innings. One of the four batters he walked scored, as did the batter he hit, Pasqua.

“There’s no doubt he cannot locate the baseball as well as he will after his corrective surgery,” Rader said of McCaskill, who will have bone spurs removed from his right elbow after the season.

McCaskill said his elbow didn’t trouble him Thursday.

“I couldn’t throw strikes with my breaking ball when I needed to,” said McCaskill, whose earned-run average rose to 3.16, still among the league leaders. “I walked a couple guys I couldn’t afford to and that hurt me.”

The Angels tied the game, 1-1, in the third inning on an RBI single by Brian Downing. A fine throw by right fielder Sammy Sosa got Luis Polonia trying to score on the play.

Chicago broke the game open with three runs in the fourth inning on an RBI double by Pasqua and a single by Scott Fletcher, whose hit drove in two. He had been one for 26 against McCaskill.

“I said to Carlton Fisk, ‘If you go with the percentages, the guy (Fletcher) is due, and he’s really due here,’ ” Torborg said.

Fernandez’s potential seems unlimited. “I asked for him two weeks before I got him. (GM Larry Himes) wanted him to get in two more weeks in double-A,” Torborg said. “I asked for Frank (Thomas) and Alex. I thought we needed a little kick start and they’ve responded.”

Angel Notes

Manager Doug Rader’s contractual status for 1991 remains unsettled, but he said Thursday he won’t raise the matter during the season.

Rader was appointed manager on Nov. 14, 1988 with a one-year contract. That was was extended through the 1990 season in July, 1989. In leading the Angels to a 91-71 record last season, Rader became the fourth manager in club history to have a winning record in his first full season.

“I’d like to have it resolved, but nothing’s been said and I’m not going to ask,” Rader said.

General Manager Mike Port, who attended Thursday’s game, was noncommittal on Rader’s future.

Nolan Ryan is scheduled to pitch against the Angels on Tuesday at Anaheim Stadium. Ryan, who won his 301st game Wednesday, didn’t face the Angels in Texas’ first visit, June 8-10.

Luis Polonia (third inning) became the first runner thrown out at home since Bobby Knoop became the third-base coach and Moose Stubing moved to first.