Angels, Finley Stop Tigers’ Streak

Buck Rodgers didn’t enjoy any great show of offense from the Angels in his second game as manager, but they did score four runs--something they have failed to do in 60 games this season.

Chuck Finley became the major leagues’ fourth 16-game winner, giving Rodgers his first victory as the Angels’ manager, 4-2, over the Detroit Tigers before 27,494 Tuesday night at Anaheim Stadium.

The Tigers, whose winning streak ended at seven game, fell a game behind first-place Toronto in the American League East.

Bryan Harvey pitched the ninth inning and gave up a home run to Travis Fryman before recording his 32nd save to break the Angels’ season record of 31, first set by Donnie Moore in 1985.

In Rodgers’ debut Monday, the Angels had 10 hits but scored only once. It was the 52nd time in 60 games this season that the Angels had lost a game by failing to score more than three runs.

It was a different story Tuesday, when the Angels scored twice after two were out in the

fourth to take a 2-0 lead, and scored two more in the seventh with some help from Skeeter Barnes’ throwing error on Luis Sojo’s sacrifice.

“We took advantage of our scoring opportunities,” Rodgers said. “Tonight was almost the opposite of last night.”

Finley (16-7) allowed one run on four hits and struck out a season-high 10 before leaving with two outs in the seventh. He was forced to the sidelines by a blood blister on the middle finger of his left hand.

The Tigers lead the majors in strikeouts. Rob Deer was Finley’s victim three times.

“They’re a free-swinging team. They’ve showed that all year,” said Finley, who had totaled just 11 strikeouts in his past five starts. “I don’t think my stuff was better. I just made a few good pitches and made them swing at ‘em.”

Finley, who walked one and hit one, avoided trouble several times, often with the help of his infield defense.

Perhaps most notable was second baseman Luis Sojo’s play on Cecil Fielder’s grounder with a runner on second in the fourth. Fielder hit a ball up the middle, out of Finley’s reach. It was out of shortstop Dick Schofield’s reach too, but Sojo ranged behind the bag to get it and lofted a floating, fall-away throw toward first. Wally Joyner stretched to catch it, just ahead of Fielder, an extraordinarily slow runner.

Some of the biggest suspense came at the end, when Harvey faltered in giving up the homer and a single before ending the game.

“I barely mowed ‘em down, but I’ll take it,” Harvey said. “I don’t care as long as our number’s better than theirs at the end of the night.”

The Angels padded their 2-1 lead in the seventh after Barnes’ error on Sojo’s sacrifice bunt allowed Junior Felix to score from second. On the play, Sojo wound up on third, where he flopped on his back, exhausted.

That spelled the end for starter John Cerutti, who gave way to Jerry Don Gleaton. With one out, Luis Polonia slapped a single beyond the reach of Barnes, who was playing in, and Sojo scored to make it 4-1.

Polonia stole second, but then was caught in a rundown on a pickoff attempt for the second time in the game. Polonia was originally ruled safe, but after the Tigers’ objected, it was ruled Barnes caught him with a swiping tag. That gave Rodgers the opportunity to argue a call on his second day on the job.

The Angels were in for another embarrassment on the basepaths moments later, when Shawn Abner was caught in a rundown after being picked off first.

“Luis was a little overanxious at second base, and Abner, with two strikes on Wally, just guessed wrong,” Rodgers said. “You can’t penalize that type of aggressiveness.”