BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Grahe Wins, but Isn’t Celebrating

As Joe Grahe sees it, he can’t lose something he never thought he had.

Much as the Angel right-hander paid no heed when Manager Buck Rodgers identified him as the fourth starter early in camp, he was unruffled when Rodgers later declared the fourth spot up for grabs.

“Till April 7, you can’t know for sure,” Grahe said. “If I’d had a bad outing again today, then I’d be worried.”

Grahe gave up up two runs in four innings and got the victory as the Angels beat the Oakland Athletics, 6-3, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Rodgers was lukewarm about Grahe’s work.

“He’s still not getting ahead and he’s guiding his changeup,” Rodgers said. “His changeup is a very big pitch for him because he’s basically a fastball-hard breaking pitch pitcher.”

Scott Lewis, another candidate for the fourth or fifth spot in the rotation, gave up one run in three innings.

The Angels released right-hander Dave Johnson, whom they had signed as a free agent in January. In seven innings over three games, Johnson had an earned-run average of 6.43. . . . Chuck Finley is scheduled to pitch two innings in today’s “B” game against the Padres instead of in an intrasquad game. . . . Eduardo Perez, the Angels’ first-round draft pick last June, will start the season in Class A with either Quad City or Palm Springs. Perez, the son of former major leaguer Tony Perez, batted .288 for Class A Boise in 46 games last season. He has been converted from an outfielder to a third baseman.