Angels Stumble in 10th : Baseball: Two relievers give up five runs to the Brewers after Leftwich yields only four hits in nine innings.

The Angels wouldn’t have faulted Phil Leftwich for storming into the clubhouse Friday night, trashing his locker and screaming obscenities at anyone who approached him.

This isn’t fair, they say. It’s cruel, is what it is. Here’s a kid who has been pitching his guts out since coming to the big leagues three weeks ago, and what does he have to show for his efforts?

One victory.

Welcome to the Angels, kid.

The Angels squandered yet another stellar performance by Leftwich, losing to the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-2, in 10 innings before 26,495 at Anaheim Stadium.

The Brewers, who looked absolutely lifeless for nine innings against Leftwich, teed off for five runs in the 10th against Steve Frey (2-3) and Joe Grahe.

Frey, pitching for the third consecutive day, yielded a one-out solo homer to John Jaha, the first homer Frey has given up since Aug. 18, 1992. Darryl Hamilton drove Frey out of the game two batters later with a run-scoring double, and the inning was completed when Greg Vaughn hit a three-run homer against Grahe.

Brewer starter Cal Eldred (13-12), who threw 150 pitches, pitched all 10 innings in the longest stint of his career. He yielded only six hits and one earned run, striking out nine batters--including designated hitter Chili Davis all four times he batted.

Although Leftwich (1-3) matched Eldred for nine innings, yielding only four hits and pitching seven perfect innings, he was left with a no-decision.

Leftwich couldn’t help but be disappointed. Yes, he conceded, it can be discouraging when your teammates have scored three or fewer runs in four of his five starts.

But bitter?

For Leftwich, this still is one beautiful dream that gets better by the day.

“So far, everything has gone all right,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier. I’m definitely ready to pitch in the big leagues. . . . I know that.”

It’s hard to believe this is the same pitcher who had a 7.77 earned-run average two months ago at triple-A Vancouver and wondered if he was pitching himself out of the Angel organization.

Angel special-assignment scout Matt Keough happened to be in the stands that night in Tucson when Leftwich feared for his future. He had given up 10 hits and nine earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, and Leftwich stalked the mound as if he wanted to strangle someone.

Keough, a former major league pitcher, decided it was time for a talk. Make that a one-way conversation. Keough let him have it, and wouldn’t leave until Leftwich heard him out.

“I told him if you want to be frustrated with everybody, get upset with the umpires and your own fielders,” Keough said, “then just go home. You can have pitching contests with yourself.

“If you take all of your frustrations to the rubber with you, there’s no way you’re going to be successful. When you wear all of your emotions on your sleeve, the hitters can see it, and they’ll take advantage of it. They see you’re insecure, and believe me, they know you’re vulnerable.

“Really, that was all I said to him. It was all very basic. It wasn’t Einstein or anything.”

Leftwich hasn’t been the same since. He went 5-1 with a 1.48 ERA in his next eight triple-A starts.

While Angel Manager Buck Rodgers will have used a club-record 22 pitchers by the end of this weekend--including 11 different starters--no one has has been more of a pleasant surprise than Leftwich. He has pitched at least seven innings and given up three or fewer runs in four of his five starts, with a 3.31 ERA.