Finley Throws Away Bid for 19th Win, 3-2

The only suspense left in the Angels’ season is whether Chuck Finley will win 20 games, and Finley seems intent on keeping everyone--including himself--in suspense until the last moment.

Two errors, including Finley’s wild throw on a probable double-play ball in the second inning, helped the Tigers score two unearned runs and kept Finley two victories short of 20.

The Angels mustered only three hits off Jack Morris and Mike Henneman in a 3-2 loss to Detroit before a crowd of 22,397 at Anaheim Stadium, leaving Finley (18-7) three more starts in his bid for 20.

The 27-year-old left-hander is scheduled to pitch at Kansas City on Sunday, at Anaheim Stadium a week from Friday night against the Royals and in the season finale Oct. 3 at Oakland as he attempts to become the club’s first 20-game winner since Nolan Ryan was 22-16 in 1974.

“I can certainly use them all,” Finley said. “I’m gonna shoot all six bullets.”

Finley threw away Mike Heath’s chopper in the second and couldn’t play Chet Lemon’s bunt in the fourth.

Dick Schofield’s bobble on Tony Phillips’ leadoff grounder in the first set up Detroit’s first run, as Phillips took second on a passed ball and scored on Travis Fryman’s single to center.

Lloyd Moseby singled with one out in the second and went to third when Finley’s throw to second on Heath’s high chopper sailed into center field. Moseby scored on Milt Cuyler’s squeeze bunt.

“I’m not saying that was a sure double play, but you’ve got to get the double play started,” Finley said.

He started to throw to first on Lemon’s fourth-inning bunt but didn’t see second baseman Johnny Ray covering first and decided instead to hold the ball. Gary Ward, who led off with a single, took second on Lemon’s single, went to third when Finley walked Moseby on four pitches and scored Detroit’s only earned run on Cuyler’s sacrifice fly.

“I just totally screwed that up,” said Finley, who reduced his earned-run average to 2.39, second only Boston’s Roger Clemens at 1.98. “When I turned to throw, nobody was there. Then I saw him, but my feet stopped and my arm kept going. If I’d thrown, it would have gone into the outfield. I should have kept my feet in better position.”

The Angels scored in the second on Schoefield’s sacrifice fly and cut the Tigers’ lead to 3-2 in the fourth on Lee Stevens’ sixth home run of the season. Morris (12-18) walked the bases full in the sixth but escaped unscathed on Schofield’s grounder.

Angel Notes

Johnny Ray, who said last month he wanted to be traded if his playing time didn’t increase--and soon after became the regular second baseman when Donnie Hill sprained his left wrist--said he’s not sure if he wants to return next season. “It’s tough to say,” said Ray, who entered Tuesday’s game with a seven-game hitting streak and a .281 batting average. “After everything that’s happened you try to look at the positive. . . . I’m going to play somewhere next season.” . . . Devon White was removed from the game after being hit on the ankle by a pitch from Jack Morris. X-rays will be taken today.