Angels Soar With Leiter’s Arm, 8-2

The Angels signed him as an afterthought. He was simply a name on the waiver wire, and there was no guarantee he would last longer than a week.

In two months, starter Mark Leiter has not proved to be a godsend to the Angels, but he has personified the heart and soul of the organization.

Leiter, proving that good things do happen to good people, stymied yet another powerful lineup Wednesday night, enabling the Angels to defeat the Baltimore Orioles, 8-2, at Camden Yards.

“He inspires this whole team,” said Angel left fielder Dwight Smith, who had three hits, scored two runs and drove in two runs. “It’s very special to all of us to see what he’s doing.

“I remember talking to him when he got back (from his son’s memorial service). I told him how I lost my mom in ‘86, and that gave me inner strength.

“And that’s what he’s doing.

“His son has given him that strength.”

Leiter, whose 9-month-old son, Ryan, died April 4, says that he is inspired.

Leiter, away from his wife and 3-year-old son for the first time since Ryan’s death, has had difficulty with the separation during this trip. His phone bill is going to be expensive, he says, but it was going to be enjoyable recanting Wednesday’s performance.

He gave the Orioles fits for eight innings, yielding only six hits and two runs. Leiter limited Baltimore’s first seven hitters to three hits, and if not for Jeffrey Hammonds’ two-run double in the fifth, might have had a shutout.

“I told myself before the game, ‘If I give up two runs or less, I’m going to win,’ ” Leiter said. “I felt that confident.

“That’s why I’m not surprised at all what I’m doing. If I said that, it’s like saying, ‘I shouldn’t be here.’ I’ve always believed in my ability.”

Now, the rest of the American League is starting to believe. Leiter, who has developed a split-finger fastball this season, is 2-0 with a 2.57 earned-run average, and the Angels have won all three of his starts.

The only question was whether the Angels would score enough runs. But once again in the ninth inning, the Angels scored six runs to break open a 2-2 tie. The Angels have scored 25 of 81 runs in the ninth this season, the most in the majors.

“I love the ninth,” said Angel second baseman Harold Reynolds, who haunted his former teammates by going three for four with two RBIs. “It’s pressure. It’s fun. It’s exciting.

“Besides, nobody gets paid for extra innings, anyway.”

The crowd of 45,851 sensed the game’s outcome the moment Oriole Manager Johnny Oates went to the mound in the ninth with one out and Reynolds on first base.

They booed Oates, imploring him to leave starter Mike Mussina in the game. It didn’t matter that Mussina already had thrown 121 pitches. They simply wanted no part of that bullpen, which excluding stopper Lee Smith, has a 10.27 ERA.

Oates ignored the crowd’s sentiments and summoned Alan Mills (24.92 ERA). Gary DiSarcina hit Mills’ first pitch into right field. Damion Easley walked, loading the bases. That brought up Smith, who lined a single into right field, scoring Reynolds and DiSarcina. Tim Salmon followed with a sacrifice fly. Chili Davis drove in another run with a single to center, knocking Mills out of the game.

Jim Edmonds greeted Brad Pennington with a single to center, scoring their fifth run. Chad Curtis walked. Greg Myers loaded the bases with an infield single. Reynolds walked, forcing in the sixth run. It finally ended when DiSarcina, the inning’s 11th batter, popped up to second baseman Mark McLemore.

Just like that, the Angels (7-8) ended their three-game streak of one-run defeats and made one team look foolish for releasing Leiter.

“It’s a beautiful thing that I got released from the Tigers,” Leiter said. “If I was still with the Tigers, I’m sure Sparky (Anderson) would have me in the bullpen by now like he has every year.

“Actually, I was kind of hoping I’d get claimed by the Orioles because I spent my first five years in this organization, but I never made it to the big leagues.

“But you know, things have worked pretty good here.

“Really, this has been a blessing.”

The Angels couldn’t agree more.