Springer Pitches Out of Trouble Early On : Angels: Despite putting runners on in first few innings, they don’t reach home, helping to boost pitcher’s confidence.

Russ Springer went nine innings against the Boston Red Sox Monday night at Anaheim Stadium. And there were two ways to look at the results.

The box score shows that Springer gave up two runs in the ninth and three total; that he allowed 11 hits and six walks; that he gave up four hits to Billy Hatcher, including a two-run homer in the ninth, and that he threw 142 pitches.

What it doesn’t show can’t be measured in the small type in the back pages of the daily sports section.

The Angels lost Monday’s game, 4-3, in 11 innings and Springer did not get a decision, but he said the game was good for his confidence. Angel Manager Buck Rodgers agreed, although he remains concerned that Springer’s first few innings of pitching aren’t what they should be. Or could be.

“He got in the same trouble early, but he got out of it, that was the difference,” Rodgers said.

A couple of double plays helped Springer hold the Red Sox to only one run, despite having baserunners on in six of the first eight innings. He made mistakes, to be sure, but none were as damaging as the changeup that rose high enough for Hatcher to slam over the left-field wall, giving Boston a 3-1 lead in the ninth.

The Angels rallied to force extra innings, but Springer’s night ended after the ninth. All things considered, he was pleased.

“I felt I threw the ball well tonight,” he said after lowering his earned-run average from 8.87 to 7.24. “I felt fine all the way through. My pitch count was up there, but I walked some people and when you go deep into the count, that happens.”

Like past starts, he put plenty of runners on base in the first two innings. Unlike past starts, he managed to keep the Red Sox from scoring.

After two innings in his last start last week in Oakland, he had given up five runs and five hits with one walk and three wild pitches.

But a strange thing happened after the second. He settled down and kept the Athletics scoreless through the seventh inning, when he was replaced by Jerry Nielsen.

He was tough on the Red Sox through the middle innings, throwing a fastball clocked at 92 m.p.h.

“It was about his 120th pitch,” Rodgers said. “We all get tired. Some pitchers get tired in the sixth, some in the seventh. Young pitchers have to learn to pitch tired. Pitching fresh is his problem. Adrenaline rush is his problem right now.”

Springer said he never felt tired and could have gone another inning if Rodgers had needed it.

However, Springer had trouble enough just getting out of the ninth.

He gave up a leadoff double to John Valentin, then snared Earnest Riles’ come-backer and threw a bullet to shortstop Gary DiSarcina to catch Valentin, who wandered too far off second base.

Three batters later, Hatcher homered, capping his four-hit night.

Springer seemed unfazed by the outcome, however.

“I think it was a positive game for me,” Springer said. “I’m real happy with the whole game.”