Anderson Pitches Angels to the Top : Baseball: He turns in eight solid innings, and team is alone in first place after 11-8 victory over Orioles.

Brian Anderson was treated like an outcast last season. He was shunned by his teammates, ostracized by the veterans and belittled at almost every opportunity.

His mistake was being a first-round draft pick who was called up to the big leagues only five weeks after signing with the Angels. The September call-up was stipulated in his contract, but the players resented his presence.

Funny how quickly sentiments can change.

Anderson, suddenly becoming everyone’s best friend, continued his rescue mission Thursday night by carrying the Angels to an 11-8 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

The team that was supposed to collapse when starter Mark Langston underwent elbow surgery is being saved by a 21-year-old kid, leading them into first place in the American League West.

“I’m making sure I’m hanging around him now so I can get my name in the paper,” left fielder Bo Jackson said, calling him ‘Super Rookie.’ “He can do anything.”

Anderson indeed has provided the Angels much more than they ever imagined. He gave up only six hits and three runs in eight innings, raising his record to 2-0 with a 2.42 earned-run average. More important, the Angels (8-8) have won all three games he has pitched.

“The reception from the guys is a whole lot different than a year ago,” Anderson said. “They’re talking to me this time. They actually said something to me the first day.”

Said teammate Phil Leftwich: “It was tough on him last year, but he handled it pretty well. Guys got on him pretty good, not only because he was a rookie, but because he got called up so fast.

“You’ve got to remember, a lot of these guys spent a lot of years in the minors before they got to the big leagues. Brian was called right up. There were veterans that resented that.”

Anderson, who received a congratulatory call from Frank Robinson, Oriole assistant general manager, two hours before the game and pitched in front of his parents who traveled from Ohio, never lost his composure. He didn’t have his usual fastball, but he kept the Orioles off-balance the entire evening.

Even when he left after the eighth inning, he never was perturbed when Angel relievers Mike Butcher (four runs) and Scott Lewis (one run) made nervous wrecks out of the rest of his teammates. He casually walked out of the clubhouse to find his mother hugging Jackson.

“Hey, Mom,” he said. “Glad to see you guys finally met.”

Jackson, who telephoned Anderson’s mother from the team bus after her son’s first victory in Milwaukee, was instrumental in Anderson’s latest feat. He hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning and drove in a season-high four runs.

First baseman Eduardo Perez, who produces his finest games on days his roommate pitches, hit two home runs and drove in four runs. Perez is hitting .364 with four homers and seven RBIs in Anderson’s three starts; .196 with one homer and six RBIs when everyone else starts.

“I hope he pitches every day,” Perez said.

Anderson, who was supposed to be spending this season at triple-A Vancouver until Langston underwent elbow surgery, already performs as if he has been in the big leagues for a decade. Catcher Greg Myers still can’t believe his savvy, saying that he already reminds him of former teammate Jimmy Key.

The only giveaway to Anderson’s limited experience is that he continues to wear No. 56, a uniform that customarily is furnished to guys who don’t have a chance in spring training. While the Angels have asked Anderson if he wants to exchange the uniform for a lower number, he steadfastly has refused.

“When they gave it to me last year, I asked them, ‘Hey, don’t I get some shoulder pads and a helmet to go along with this number?’ They didn’t think it was so funny,” he said.

“But, hey, it’s grown on me now. I kind of like it. It’s me.”