Blyleven Wins in First Triple-A Game Since 1970

Bert Blyleven took another step Friday toward returning to the Angels, giving up five hits and one run in six innings and picking up the victory as the Edmonton Trappers defeated the Calgary Cannons, 5-2, in a Pacific Coast League game at Calgary.

“Other than the fifth inning, I was very happy,” said Blyleven, a 41-year-old right-hander. He walked leadoff hitter Jeff Wetherby, who scored on Chris Howard’s single. “I was happy the way I came out in the sixth and threw strikes again.”

Blyleven struck out five and walked two against the Seattle Mariner affiliate in his first triple-A appearance since he went 4-2 with the Evansville Triplets of the American Assn. in 1970.

Attempting a comeback after missing all of last season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, Blyleven was 2-3 with a 2.73 earned-run average for Midland of the Double-A Texas League. He is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday for Edmonton.