Finley Loses Control, Angels Stumble : Baseball: His first walks come in the eighth inning and include one that scores the go-ahead run in Blue Jays’ 3-2 victory.

Chuck Finley wasn’t missing the strike zone by much when he faced former teammate Devon White in the eighth inning Friday.

“A couple inches here, a couple inches there,” catcher Ron Tingley said.

Those insignificant inches added up to four significant walks, including one with the bases loaded to Pat Tabler. That marginal and rare lapse of control, combined with Roberto Alomar’s two-run double and a superb defensive play by left fielder Mookie Wilson in the bottom of the inning, proved enough for the Blue Jays to rally for a 3-2 victory over the Angels Friday at Anaheim Stadium.

Finley (7-2) had little difficulty protecting a 2-0 lead until Pat Borders singled with one out in the eighth inning and was forced by Manny Lee. White drew Toronto’s first walk and scored behind Lee when Alomar’s fly to right field fell just fair and bounced into the corner.

Joe Carter was walked intentionally, John Olerud unintentionally, on a full count. Tabler, whose career batting average with the bases loaded is .500 (41 for 82), recorded his 100th RBI in a bases-loaded situation when he took a high, inside pitch for ball four.

“He missed pretty bad on that last pitch,” Tingley said. “He knew he had to have something on it, and he just tried to make too perfect a pitch.”

Finley, upset, left the Angel clubhouse without talking to reporters. Tingley, who caught to give Lance Parrish’s sore left shoulder another day’s rest, said Finley’s concentration didn’t appear to have been broken when Luis Sojo called time out to get medical attention for an eye problem after the walk to White.

“I think Chuck got in some trouble because he needed to make a great pitch (to Alomar). The guy threw the bat out and put it in play. You have to tip your hat to him,” said Tingley, who had driven in the Angels’ first run, in the second inning, with his first hit of the season. “It was a good pitch. It’s not like it was down the middle. . . .

“I don’t think he had lost any velocity. That inning, he just lost location. He might have gotten shaken up by losing the shutout, but he seemed strong. It’s really a tough loss. The guy battled his fanny off and threw some great pitches. He had everybody off balance, and it came down to that one inning.”

The Angels almost came back in the bottom of the eighth against Ken Dayley. With two out, Dave Winfield poked a single into left field and moved into scoring position when Junior Felix walked. Max Venable, hitting for Dave Gallagher, dropped a line drive into left. Wilson made a diving catch.

“I got a good jump on it,” said Wilson, who had entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning. “I lost it in the lights for a split second and it came out. I left my feet and it hit a good spot in my glove. If I don’t make that catch, we’re finished.”

Tingley agreed. “That’s two runs right there. . . . We score two and the game’s ours,” he said.

Angel Manager Doug Rader said he never entertained the thought of taking Finley out with the bases loaded.

“I’ve seen Chuck pitch through the same situation many, many times and get the critical out. He wasn’t able to do it (this time),” Rader said of Finley, who threw 142 pitches. “His velocity was fine. He just lost the plate.

“Chuck Finley is going to be given the opportunity to pitch out of a situation like that. It’s as simple as that. He’s the ace of our staff and when the game’s on the line, he’ll be given the chance to pitch out of a situation like that.”

And he might have gotten a reprieve, had Wilson not extended himself--and his body--to keep the Blue Jays a half-game behind Boston in the AL East.

“It was one of the plays of the week,” Tingley said. “It’s just a real tough loss.”