Angels’ Abbott Stops Royals, Wins No. 18 : Baseball: His 5-1 victory helps turn 0-4 record and 6.00 ERA into final personal-best 18-11 mark and 2.89 ERA.

The 29,247 fans at Anaheim Stadium rose to their feet as one as Jim Abbott moved within one strike of winning his last game of the season.

When Tim Spehr popped out to end the Angels’ 5-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals Saturday, the chill in the air was dispelled by the ovation accorded Abbott as he ended his finest major league season.

“I was able to put a lot of things into place this year that I learned from my first couple of years,” Abbott said after his fifth complete game improved his record to a personal-best 18-11.

“I went through a lot of ups and downs my first two years and I had some ups and downs early this year, too. With the help of (pitching coach) Marcel Lachemann I was able to put it all into perspective, all the lessons.”

To put his season into perspective, remember that on April 28, Abbott was 0-4 with a 6.00 earned-run average and the threat of demotion to Edmonton hanging over him. His turnaround was dramatic, and until he lost three of his final five decisions, he had a chance of winning 20 games. He finished with a 2.89 ERA, among the best in the American League.

“I said at the beginning of the year this is a tremendous pitching staff and I hoped to be a consistent contributor and give the team a chance to win every time I went out,” Abbott said. “For the most part, that was the case.”

Abbott pitched into the seventh inning or later 26 times, including 24 of his last 29 starts. The bullpen squandered four saves in games he left as the potential winning pitcher.

“I’m proud of all the guys,” Lachemann said, “but Jimmy’s just a good kid. He came along so quick. He doesn’t ask for any quarter. He just keeps trying to win and get better. He’s trying to get better now, and he’s probably one of the best in the league right now.”

The Angels gave him a 3-0 lead in the fourth on Lee Stevens’ RBI double and Lance Parrish’s two-run home run to left. The Royals scored in the sixth on a two singles and a balk, but Abbott was never seriously challenged.

Junior Felix’s leadoff homer in the sixth--his first homer since April 30--and Dave Winfield’s sacrifice fly in the eighth completed the scoring.

The victory enables the Angels to finish at .500 if they win their season finale today. A loss would leave them 80-82, as they were last season, and would provide their 20th sub-.500 finish in 31 seasons.

“Nobody that plays this game wants to finish under .500,” Manager Buck Rodgers said. “(Today) will be a challenge for us. A mini-challenge, but a challenge.”