Gallagher Misses Sign, Hits Ball for 7-4 Angel Victory

So intent was Dave Gallagher on regaining a lead the Angels had squandered that he never saw third base coach Bobby Knoop flash the sign for a squeeze play with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning.

With pinch-runner Shawn Abner bearing down from third base, Gallagher took a full swing, lining the ball over Abner’s head and down the left-field line for a three-run double and an almost accidental 7-4 Angel victory before 26,447 at Anaheim Stadium Thursday.

“There was a point where (Abner’s) life passed before his eyes,” Angel Manager Buck Rodgers said, smiling. “It was supposed to be a straight squeeze, but it turned into a hit-and-run.”

Of greatest importance to Gallagher and the Angels was that it turned out successfully, restoring their record to .500 and keeping the White Sox from gaining ground on the Minnesota Twins in the AL West.

“I was just so into that at-bat, I didn’t think. Shawn did it correctly,” said Gallagher, who had only one RBI in his previous 19 games. “When I was swinging, I saw him out of the corner of my eye. The ball was hit right down the line. My intensity was so focused on that at-bat, I didn’t see the sign. I appreciate Buck trying to take the burden off me, but it might have cost us the game. I’ll just have to be more aware of the situation.”

Angel starter Chuck Finley was aware Rodgers was coming to the mound to take him out and not to chat after Finley gave up a one-out single to Frank Thomas in the eighth inning. Unhappy though he might have been to leave after giving up one run--a homer by Robin Ventura that was only the fifth by a left-hander in Finley’s career--he knew he couldn’t change Rodgers’ mind.

“He’s not much for conversation on the mound,” said Finley, who had a 3-1 lead and seemed about to become the AL’s second 18-game winner. “There’s no use sitting out there crying about it. I’ve tried it. It doesn’t work.”

Bringing in Mark Eichhorn (3-2) to set up Bryan Harvey didn’t work, because pinch-hitter Dan Pasqua doubled in two runs to tie the game and Lance Johnson drove in Pasqua with a single to right.

Still, the night worked out in the Angels’ favor.

“When things happen like that,” Gallagher said, “it’s a lot better than if Robin catches the ball and steps on third.”