Sojo Lets Angels Enjoy Unexpected Again, 5-1

Luis Sojo is not complaining, but he does not always know what to expect from the Angels.

He was the starting second baseman last season. This season he found himself in the minors on opening day.

“When I was in Venezuela (during the off-season), I thought I had my job,” he said. “When I got here, the first thing I heard was I had to win my job.”

Sojo didn’t know what to expect during the seventh inning of the Angels’ 5-1 victory over Kansas City on Sunday.

With one out and the Angels leading, 2-1, it seemed possible that Sojo would get a bunt sign with runners on first and third.

He didn’t and instead drove an 0-and-2 pitch from Mark Gubicza over the left-field fence for the Angels’ first three-run homer since April 30.

The victory, before 39,902 at Anaheim Stadium, was the Angels’ fourth in a row after a stretch during which they won only four of 24 games. They have scored 19 runs in the last four games.

Sojo has only six home runs in parts of three major league seasons.

“I was thinking about (a squeeze play), definitely thinking about it,” interim Manager John Wathan said. “I knew Luis Sojo was two for three against Mark Gubicza before the game, but I certainly didn’t expect what he did today, with four RBIs and a three-run homer.”

Sojo also drove in the go-ahead run during the fifth inning, after Lee Stevens’ 405-foot homer tied the score, 1-1.

Rene Gonzales singled, took second on a fly out and scored on Sojo’s single.

Stevens’ homer broke a drought of 64 2/3 innings without a home run by the Angels. He also got his first hit against a left-handed pitcher this season when he singled against Mark Davis during the eighth inning.

“This was a big series for him,” Wathan said.

Julio Valera (3-5) earned the victory, giving up six hits in 7 2/3 innings. He gave up the Royals’ run when Wally Joyner scored on George Brett’s fourth-inning triple off the top of the wall in center.

Gubicza (6-4) became the first pitcher with a winning record to lose to the Angels since May 9, when they beat Toronto’s Todd Stottlemyre. Gubicza was 6-1 in his last nine starts before Sunday, with a 2.49 earned-run average during that stretch.

Gubicza stranded runners on third base during the second and sixth innings but gave up five runs in 6 2/3 innings, four scoring on the two homers. The loss was the Royals’ eighth in a row against the Angels, dating to last season.

Since being called up from triple-A Edmonton, Sojo is batting .355 in 31 at-bats, with two homers and six RBIs. Gonzales, whose offense had pushed him into the starting position at second base ahead of Bobby Rose, is batting .277 with a personal-best six homers and 22 RBIs.

“Right now, we’ll go with the hot hand--whoever’s swinging the bat,” Wathan said.

Gonzales, who was in the lineup at third base Sunday, has no problem with the number of players bidding for time.

“I think it’s great guys can step in there and do the job,” he said. “We need a contribution from everybody in the lineup.”

Angel Attendance

Sunday: 39,902

1992 (28 dates): 771,303

1991 (28 dates): 817,429

Decrease: 46,126

1992 average: 27,547