BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Team Says Goodby to Palm Springs

The Angels commemorated the last game of their 32nd and final spring in Palm Springs.

The sun broke through rain clouds to shine on owner Gene Autry as he threw out the ceremonial first pitch Wednesday. The ball was caught by Buck Rodgers, a member of the original 1961 Angels and manager of the current team. And Rodgers and his players--who will train in Tempe, Ariz., beginning next spring--saluted the fans at Angels Stadium with a tip of their caps.

Then they did the unusual--they scored. Shut out for 20 innings over their previous three games, the Angels scored once in the first inning in a 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres.

“I’ll always remember we won the final game,” Rodgers said. “We won the first game (8-3 over the Cubs) and the last game and a bunch in between.”

Rodgers left Palm Springs without choosing his starting catcher. John Orton was put on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27 because of an inflamed right shoulder, leaving Lance Parrish, Ron Tingley and Mike Fitzgerald competing for jobs. Rodgers has not decided whether to carry two catchers or three, but the presence of extra infielder Dick Schofield might limit the number to two.

“Everybody’s interested in Lance’s situation, and the big question that has to be answered is, is he still a productive player or is he through, or on the way out?” said Rodgers, who will make his decision during the Freeway Series. “That’s the question at that age (35).”

Parrish, who is hitting .111, has decided not to let the question upset him. “It doesn’t do me any good to fight with myself about it,” said Parrish, whose $2.25-million salary is guaranteed. “I could play this thing over in my mind 1,000 times and not make any sense of it.”

Mark Langston gave up one run over five innings and struck out four in his final spring start. Langston, who will start the season opener Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox at Anaheim Stadium, was 2-1 this spring with a 3.86 ERA in five starts. . . . Infielder Rene Gonzales and pitcher Chris Beasley are the two likely cuts in addition to a catcher. . . . Bryan Harvey pitched a scoreless ninth and has yet to give up an earned run in 12 2/3 innings.