Hard-Luck McCaskill Gets Win in Kansas City : Angels: Royals’ Saberhagen, in first start since surgery, passes test despite 12-5 loss.

Manager Doug Rader had praise for the winning pitcher, Kirk McCaskill, after the Angels’ 12-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals Friday night.

But he also had praise for the losing pitcher, Bret Saberhagen.

Saberhagen, the Royals’ 1989 Cy Young Award winner, made his first start since undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery in mid-July and gave up four runs and nine hits in five innings.

“You’ve got to give Saberhagen a lot of credit for wanting to come back and maybe give their ballclub a boost, but our people need to be complimented for doing a good job,” Rader said. “Much like Saberhagen, McCaskill has continued to go out there and pitch less than 100%. He should be admired for his effort over the course of the season.”

McCaskill, the Angels’ hard-luck starter, raised his record to 12-10 despite a 3.01 earned-run average.

Despite taking the loss, Saberhagen (5-8) felt he passed his test.

“As far as my elbow, arm and shoulder, I’ve got a good scorecard tonight,” said the right-hander from Reseda. “Everything worked out nice. I had no staying power. My stamina was not all that great. The bottom line is I went out there and threw with no pain.”

Saberhagen, who last pitched July 15, struck out four and didn’t walk a batter.

McCaskill held the Royals to two runs until the eighth, when Bo Jackson’s three-run homer knocked him out. It was Jackson’s 25th home run.

Saberhagen, who underwent surgery July 23 to remove loose fragments in his elbow, pitched two scoreless innings. But Dick Schofield’s leadoff double triggered a three-run Angel third.

The Angels scored seven runs in the seventh against Steve Crawford and Mark Davis. Donnie Hill’s three-run homer was the big hit of the inning.

George Brett, who began the night leading the American League batting race, was two for four with a two-run double in the sixth and his average went from .326 to .327.

“If I’m going to win this thing, I’ve got to spray the ball around,” said Brett, who had two opposite-field hits. “I’ve got to do what I did to get me from .256 to .327. I’ve been pulling everything lately.”

Johnny Ray had two doubles, a single and two RBIs for the Angels. Chili Davis had a two-run double and Dave Winfield drove in two runs with a single and double as the Angels beat the Royals for the sixth time in seven games this year.

After Schofield’s double in the third inning, he took third on Devon White’s infield hit and scored on Luis Polonia’s sacrifice fly. White took third on Ray’s fly ball and two more runs scored on Davis’ grounder and Dave Winfield’s double.