ANGELS : Offense Looks More Encouraging Than Blyleven

While the Angels try to settle on a fifth starting pitcher, their offense appears to be settling itself.

Home runs by John Orton, Dave Winfield, Ron Tingley and Gary Gaetti highlighted a 20-hit spree as the Angels routed Milwaukee, 13-6, in an exhibition game Wednesday at Compadre Stadium. Dave Parker, acquired from the Brewers last Thursday for Dante Bichette, was two for five with a run batted in, and the Angels reached .500 for the first time, at 6-6.

After hoping that right-hander Bert Blyleven would recover quickly from off-season surgery on his pitching shoulder, Manager Doug Rader for the first time spoke of replacing Blyleven in the rotation.

“It doesn’t look like Bert’s going to make it,” said Rader, who announced the season-opening order as Chuck Finley, Kirk McCaskill, Mark Langston and Jim Abbott. “That (fifth) position is probably going to go down to the wire, between Joe Grahe and Scott Lewis. That should be prefaced by saying it doesn’t look as though Bert will make it.”

Rader’s statement was no surprise. Blyleven, 39, has pitched only in B games and hasn’t gone more than three innings. His hopes of being ready to open the season were dashed last week when he felt tired after a three-inning, 60-pitch outing against the San Diego Padres.

Although he felt better after his last turn Tuesday, he doesn’t expect to regain enough strength in his shoulder before the season starts.

“If I have to miss the first month or two to build it up, that’s something I’ll have to do,” Blyleven said. “I think we’re going to have an exciting club, and if I have to miss part of the season, I’d rather it be the start, when we have most of our off days.”

The three earned runs charged to Grahe Wednesday were the first after seven scoreless innings.

“I knew it would end sometime,” said Grahe, whose earned-run average is 3.00 after nine innings. Lewis’ ERA is 3.72 in 9 2/3 innings.

Bichette, who started in right field for Milwaukee, was two for four with an RBI Wednesday. He’s 10 for 18 with two home runs since the trade. “I have a relaxed feeling over here,” he said. “I didn’t have it with the Angels. I didn’t know what else I could do with the Angels to break into the lineup. I did everything.”

The player the Angels owe Milwaukee to complete the Bichette-Parker deal reportedly will be pitcher Brandy Vann, who is already in the Brewers’ camp.

Angel Notes

Dave Winfield has hits in eight consecutive games for the Angels. He has eight RBIs in his past six games. . . . Junior Felix was four for five. . . . In preparation for today’s move to Palm Springs, the Angels optioned five players to triple-A Edmonton and returned 11 others to their minor league camp. The only nonroster player going to Palm Springs is left-hander Ed Vosberg. Assigned to Edmonton were pitcher Mike Erb, outfielder Mark Davis, infielders Chris Cron and Gary DiSarcina and infielder-outfielder Lee Stevens.