Davis’ Homers Keep Angels Out of Last

Chili Davis has two ways of looking at the Angels as the season draws to a close. There’s the team perspective and a personal angle.

“Individually, the right numbers came out the right way,” Davis said about the season. “Team-wise, I’m disappointed. We faded after the All-Star game.”

Davis had two home runs and three runs batted in to lead the Angels to a 6-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

The victory, which ended a six-game losing streak, guarantees that the Angels can’t finish last in the American League West.

Davis’ homers, meanwhile, give him 27, the most of any designated hitter in Angel history. Frank Robinson had 26 in 1973.

“I like to break any record Frank Robinson set. He’s a Hall of Fame player,” Davis said.

Davis’ 111 RBIs are a career best and the most by an Angel since Wally Joyner’s 117 in 1987. The RBIs have come without the benefit of a sacrifice fly, making him only the second player since 1954--when the sacrifice fly rule took effect--to have 100 or more RBIs without one. Nick Esasky had 108 in 1989.

“Chili has just had an outstanding year,” Angel Manager Buck Rodgers said. “He’s anchored that fourth spot down for us. He’s provided the punch for us.”

Chuck Finley improved to 16-14 with his 13th complete game, giving up eight hits.

“A lot of those 13 complete games have been losses,” Finley said. “If anything, it indicates you’ve been pitching pretty good. But I’d give three or four of them back for some more wins.”

Stan Javier hit his third homer of the season, against Bob Welch, in the first, and Davis followed with his 26th.

The Javier-Davis combination worked again in the fourth when Javier singled and Davis hit his 27th homer.

After Davis’ home run, J.T. Snow struck out and Rene Gonzales walked. Torey Lovullo singled and Chris Turner’s sacrifice fly made the score 5-0.