Brewers Double Up on Angels

Catcher Chris Turner was relaxing in the Angels’ bullpen Friday night, introducing himself to teammates and getting accustomed to his first day in the big leagues.

He was told just to sit back, learn the signs, study the hitters and watch the Angels’ doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers--one which the Brewers would eventually sweep, 7-6 in the first game, 4-3 in the second, at Milwaukee County Stadium.

No one ever said anything about playing.

Not when he had traveled all day from Edmonton, Canada, and left town so fast Friday morning he didn’t even have his own catching gear.

So imagine Turner’s trepidation when Manager Buck Rodgers called him in the fourth inning of the second game and told him to get loose, he was going into the game.

“I was scared to death,” said Turner, 25. “I had no idea I was going to play. I mean, my stuff didn’t even arrive until the third inning.”

Turner introduced himself to starter Joe Magrane, squatted behind the plate, prayed that he wouldn’t forget any signs and played like someone who could be the antidote to the Angels’ catching woes.

He was praised for his savvy behind the plate, drew rave reviews for his demeanor at the plate and already is being projected as the Angels’ everyday catcher in 1994.

“Believe me, he was very, very impressive,” said Magrane, who yielded six hits and two runs (one earned) through six innings in the second game, only to come away with a no-decision. “It’s kind of funny; pitchers like the way certain catchers set up behind the plate, and I felt comfortable right away with him.

“He was aggressive calling the pitches and acted like a catcher who has known me for a long time, instead of just meeting me.”

Turner, who was catching in Class A last year at this time, also proved he is quite adept at the plate. After striking out in his first at-bat, he singled in the seventh inning with a headfirst slide into first and coaxed a walk from veteran Jesse Orosco in the eighth.

“You don’t see things like that often from a guy making his major league debut,” Rodgers said.

Turner, pressed into action when Greg Myers was forced to leave the game because of a groin injury, wasn’t sure his equipment had arrived when he got the phone call in the bullpen.

Since he didn’t have his own batting helmet, he borrowed Rene Gonzales’ helmet.

But Gonzales was called upon to pinch-hit in the eighth with Turner standing on first. Gonzales stood in the on-deck circle, quickly trying on different helmets, but none would fit. Finally, a batboy was sent to retrieve Turner’s helmet, and there was an exchange of helmets while 26,054 looked on.

“I put Gonzo in a pretty bad situation,” Turner said. “You talk about someone embarrassed.”

Rookie Mark Holzemer (0-1, 9.26 ERA) struggled again, yielding eight hits and seven earned runs in 5 2/3 innings and blowing a 6-4 lead in the sixth when Kevin Seitzer hit his third, three-run homer in the last week.

In the second game, the Angels’ bullpen again floundered, blowing a 3-2 lead in the seventh when Gene Nelson (0-5) gave up a two-out, two-run single to Pat Listach.