Abbott Has Figured Out How to Win : Angels: He uses whole plate in seven shutout innings against Brewers. Harvey saves it, 4-1.

Grace under pressure comes naturally to Jim Abbott, but some tricks of the pitching trade were not instinctive for him.

It took the Angel left-hander more than two seasons--and many unhappy moments--to learn to use the outside of the plate as well as the inside.

He showed Wednesday that he has mastered both sides. Abbott pitched seven shutout innings, gave up five hits and matched his season high of seven strikeouts as the Angels beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-1, and split their two-game series at County Stadium.

Benefiting from superb defensive play by shortstop Dick Schofield and a balanced offense, Abbott (6-5) won for the sixth time in his past seven decisions. The victory kept the Angels four games behind the division-leading Minnesota Twins.

“You still learn every time out--the learning process never stops,” said Abbott, who left after throwing 109 pitches in a listless game played under a hot sun.

“The difference for me is I’m able to be more consistent with things I’ve learned. I was just thinking before the game to go out and remember what I’ve learned. Some of the painful lessons have paid off.”

The pain of being doubted early this season, when he was 0-4, has never vanished. But Abbott says he’s not vindictive.

“I don’t have to prove anybody wrong. It feels better to think of it as supporting the people who supported me, like my family, (Manager) Doug Rader and my teammates,” said Abbott, who permitted only one runner to reach third base, and then not until the sixth inning. “I just want to justify their support.”

Rader, who has always been an Abbott supporter, said: “It’s hard for me to comment on how we felt about Jimmy all along, when it was so hard for others to see it. The only thing that needs to be said is that Jimmy is throwing as well as any pitcher in the league and is becoming the pitcher some of us knew he could become.”

He became a six-game winner--a total he didn’t reach last season until July 13--partly because of timely hitting by the Angels and two misplays by the Brewers.

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning. Then Gary Gaetti led off with a single and stole second base. Luis Sojo bunted up the third-base line, and pitcher Bill Wegman (2-3) threw the ball well past first base. Gaetti scored and Sojo reached second. Luis Polonia, who had his first two-hit game since June 1, drove in Sojo with a single to center field.

The Angels padded their lead to 4-0 in the sixth inning.

Wally Joyner began the flurry with the second of his two doubles, advanced on Dave Winfield’s fly to center and scored on Dave Parker’s single to center.

Gaetti singled to end Wegman’s day. Kevin Brown walked Max Venable to load the bases and was relieved by Darren Holmes. He got Sojo to fly to right, but former Angel Dante Bichette’s throw to first base in an attempt to double Venable off the bag was wild, allowing Parker to score the fourth run.

Schofield preserved the shutout in the sixth inning. Paul Molitor had doubled and moved to third on a groundout, bringing up Robin Yount. Abbott worked him to a 3-and-2 count before Yount chopped a grounder almost behind second base. Schofield raced over to field the ball and nail Yount at first.

“Was I ever glad Schoey was there,” Abbott said.

Schofield said: “I was glad to be there. I had to get rid of it quick, and I just barely got him.”

Schofield was more sure of catching Bill Spiers’ pop-up to short left-center field with runners on first and second in the seventh inning. He might have been the only person who thought he would get there.

“That little pop-up? I knew I had that,” he said.

The Brewers, winners of six of their previous eight games, gave him more credit.

“Those two plays Schofield made and the two plays we didn’t make, those were the difference,” Manager Tom Trebelhorn said. “We gave away a couple, and they kept us from scoring a couple.”

The Brewers didn’t score until the ninth inning, when Yount singled off Mark Eichhorn and came home on Dale Sveum’s double. That was only the third earned run off Eichhorn this season. Bryan Harvey got the last two outs to earn his 17th save.

“Abbie pitched a great game, and Ike and Harv did what they’ve done all year,” Schofield said in summation.

Abbott also won some admirers. “He pitched a hell of a game,” Spiers said. “He has some kind of arm and one of the best cutters (cut fastballs) I’ve ever seen.”

Abbott has learned not to be overwhelmed by compliments or criticism.

“We’ve kind of been sputtering, kicking and puttering along,” he said. “We haven’t had a big winning streak, but fortunately, we haven’t had a long losing streak. Maybe we’ll start playing consistent ball.

“It just feels good to contribute to a team that’s trying to compete for a division championship.”