Brett’s Perfect Day Lifts Royals Past Angels, 4-3 : Baseball: He goes four for four, hits winning home run and increases his average to a league-leading .332.

George Brett, who is trying to become the first player to win batting titles in three decades, says he is as surprised by his chances as anyone.

“Starting the season I had no intention of winning the batting championship, but I thought we’d be in contention,” Brett said. “It turns out we aren’t in contention, and I may win the batting championship.”

Brett went four for four as the Kansas City Royals beat the Angels, 4-3, Saturday. The decisive hit was Brett’s tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning.

“He’ll do it. He’s going to win the thing,” Royal Manager John Wathan said. “There’s no doubt about it.”

Brett, 37, won batting titles in 1976 and 1980. He increased his average to .332, 9 points ahead of the Texas Rangers’ Rafael Palmeiro and 10 points ahead of the Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson.

Brett said he feels vastly different than in 1980, when he was trying to finish with a .400 average and ended up at .390.

“I’m not putting any pressure on myself,” he said. “I don’t feel like I have to do well. Maybe that’s why I got four hits.”

Angel Manager Doug Rader doesn’t normally talk about players on other teams.

“But in George’s case I’ll make an exception,” Rader said. “There’s more to him than just as a player. The way he projects himself, the way he handles himself on the field. The way he competes. He’s something special. I admire him very much.”

Brett’s home run against Jim Abbott (10-14) was his sixth consecutive hit. It also was the 280th home run of his career.

Mark Davis (2-7) pitched 1 1/3 innings of perfect relief for his first victory since May 14.

The Angels took a 2-0 lead in the first against Hector Wagner on singles by Luis Polonia and Johnny Ray, second baseman Frank White’s error, Dave Winfield’s run-scoring single and a double-play grounder by Lee Stevens.

Brett’s single in the first inning scored Kevin Seitzer, but Winfield’s 20th home run made the score 3-1 in the third.

The Royals’ Gary Thurman scored when third baseman Donnie Hill committed an error on Bo Jackson’s grounder in the fifth inning.

Kansas City tied the score in the sixth when Mike Macfarlane scored on Brian McRae’s single.