BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Blyleven Third in Strikeouts

Every time Bert Blyleven pitches, he moves up on the all-time list on some pitching category or other. But overtaking Tom Seaver to stand third on the strikeout list, as he did Saturday with his first-inning strikeout of Paul Molitor, was an achievement Blyleven cherished.

“When you can pass a guy like Tom Seaver, with the competitor he was and the consistency he had, that’s quite an honor,” said Blyleven, whose three strikeouts gave him 3,643. “If you notice, after I struck out Molitor, I jumped on the ball. . . . Passing Tom Seaver was one of my goals, coming back from rehab. If I play long enough, maybe Lefty (Steve Carlton, at 4,135) will be next in line. Who knows: I might pitch another 10 years.”

The most significant milestones remaining are his 300th victory--he got no decision in the Angels’ 4-3 loss Saturday and so stayed at 280--and to advance on the innings-pitched list. He’s 13th, at 4,857 2/3.

It’s expected second baseman Bobby Rose will be sent to Class A Palm Springs today on a 20-day rehabilitation assignment. Rose sprained his right ankle in the team’s May 21 bus accident. . . . Third baseman Gary Gaetti took ground balls and was available to pinch hit Saturday, but his throwing was restricted because of an inflamed left elbow. The condition apparently was caused by the jolt he received in the bus accident, an injury he didn’t realize he had until several days later.