White Sox a Victim in Grahe’s First Win : Angels: His seven strong innings, plus home runs by Parrish and Bichette bring 4-1 victory in final game of trip.

Forgetting the significance of the occasion, Angel first baseman Lee Stevens tossed away the ball Carlos Martinez hit for the last out in Joe Grahe’s first major league victory.

“I saw on TV (in the clubhouse), and I wasn’t able to tell him to save it,” Grahe said. “I’ll just find a ball and write something on it saying it was from my first one.”

Getting the keepsake was less important to Grahe than getting a victory after a no-decision and a loss in which he was hit hard. Grahe pitched seven solid innings against the White Sox Sunday, allowing a run in the second but escaping jams in the third and sixth, as the Angels won the last game they would play in Comiskey Park, 4-1.

“I threw more strikes today and got ahead of the hitters, which means I can work off the plate from each side,” said Grahe, who allowed the Tigers five runs in 2 2/3 innings last Tuesday. “When you’re behind in the count 2 and 0 or 3 and 1, you’ve got to gut it (throw over the plate) and that’s when you get burned.”

Lance Parrish burned Greg Hibbard (10-8) for his 20th home run of the season to break a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning. Dante Bichette added a two-run home run in the ninth off Donn Pall, an at-bat made possible when Max Venable’s hard slide jarred second baseman Scott Fletcher into making a wild throw on the second leg of a potential inning-ending double play.

“It’s those little things that win you ballgames,” Angel Manager Doug Rader said between wheezes caused by a cold that has affected at least a half-dozen players. “This makes us feel very good about the trip. We competed very well (in a 3-2 victory Saturday) night and today and actually every game. I can’t find anything at fault with the way they’ve played.”

Hibbard faulted himself for a performance he judged merely “OK” when the White Sox needed something better to right them after ace reliever Bobby Thigpen yielded a game-winning home run to Stevens in the ninth inning Saturday. The White Sox are still five games behind Oakland, which lost to Detroit Sunday night.

“It’s getting down to where we have to win six of seven for us to make it a race,” said Hibbard, who gave up the Angels’ first run in the first on a double by Devon White and a double by Dave Winfield.

“We don’t seem to be getting much help. The starters are doing a good job. If we start manufacturing runs, it can happen.”

Grahe gave up Chicago’s only run in the second inning on consecutive singles by Dan Pasqua, Frank Thomas and Sammy Sosa. The Sox might have scored more, but catcher Ron Karkovice popped up a bunt to Parrish and Fletcher grounded back to Grahe, who threw to second to begin a double play.

Grahe got himself into and out of trouble in the sixth. Ivan Calderon doubled with one out and Pasqua was walked intentionally. Thomas hit a fly to center that was caught on the run by Devon White, with Calderon tagging and taking third, but Grahe loaded the bases when his 0-and-1 pitch struck Sosa on the left arm. Sosa took a few steps toward Grahe, who took a few steps toward the plate, but the umpires restrained Sosa. Grahe ended the inning by getting Karkovice to ground to short for a force at second on Sosa.

“I was just trying to go inside. With first and third and two out, the last thing I want to do is put him on base,” Grahe said of Sosa. “I didn’t want to give him something good to hit and I got it in. I just kind of looked at him to show him I had no intention of hitting him. . . .

“Everyone in the seats was standing up, and that was a pretty good amount of pressure. I was glad to get a ground ball in that situation and get out of it. That was good for my confidence.”

Parrish has had confidence in Grahe each time the 23-year-old Floridian has started. “He’s got good stuff, and the more opportunities he gets, the more confident he’ll be,” said Parrish, whose own confidence was boosted by his home run, which ended an 0-for-11 slump and gave him his seventh 20-home run season. “If he stays around the plate, he’s going to be effective. I really wasn’t surprised to see him pitch this well.”

Bichette was delighted to do well before a crowd of 34,249 that included his father, Maurice, and brother, Richard. “That was the first home run my dad has seen me hit live, and it was my last chance to hit a home run at Comiskey Park,” said Bichette, whose last home run was July 29 at Seattle. “It’s good to have a good game in front of everybody and end this trip with a couple of wins.”

Angel Notes

General Manager Mike Port declined to comment on second baseman Johnny Ray’s request for a trade if he doesn’t get more playing time. Ray made his second consecutive start on Sunday--after sitting out four games--only because Donnie Hill has a sprained left wrist. Ray, who has been bothered by bursitis in his right shoulder, never had great range but lately has failed to make several key plays and other routine ones.

Port reportedly has offered Ray around but has found no takers for the 33-year-old second baseman, whose 1990 salary is $1 million.

Hill may be placed on the disabled list today if his wrist doesn’t improve. X-rays found no bone damage but it’s too sore for him to play. He injured it Friday when he fell over Dave Winfield while both pursued a pop-up.

The Angels could call up Jack Howell, who was to play a position for triple-A Edmonton Sunday for the first time since pulling a groin muscle 10 days ago; or Gary DiSarcina, who had a three-week promotion earlier this season.

Brian Downing, 0 for 9 in his last three games, is experiencing a recurrence of his chronic back muscle problem. “As long as my back held up I was fine, but I tore it in Boston and I haven’t adjusted,” he said. “It’s not as bad as it was early this season, but it’s enough to throw my rhythm off.”

Downing, who spent his first five major-league seasons with the White Sox, was sorry he wasn’t in the lineup for the Angels’ final game at Comiskey Park. “I would have liked to play the last game, but all I did was play myself out of the lineup,” he said. “I would have liked to have gotten a hit here, but I was horrendous.” . . . The Angels’ all-time record at Comiskey was 111-126.