Angels the Worst in First After Latest Fenway Flop

You invite Bill Murray if you want to make your party a hit.

You call Barbra Streisand if you want someone to entertain.

You summon George Will if you desire a political debate.

And if you want victories at Fenway Park, you schedule a weekend engagement against the Angels.

The Boston Red Sox, leaving the Angels battered, bruised and bewildered, defeated them once again Sunday, 5-4, completing a three-game sweep before 32,521.

The Angels, who became the worst first-place team in baseball history with their ninth consecutive defeat at Fenway, fled town before anything else could go wrong.

In a weekend that might haunt them the entire season, the Angels lost three games, two relievers, a starting catcher and a bullpen catcher.

If they never believed in the evil spirits of Fenway before they arrived, they’re convinced now, and already are making plans to call the Psychic Hotline before their next visit in July.

How else do you explain reliever Ken Patterson arriving from triple-A Vancouver to replace Mike Butcher, and six pitches into his season debut, hearing a loud pop and feeling an immediate burning sensation in his left elbow? Patterson, who never had an elbow problem, is scheduled to undergo diagnostic testing today in Inglewood. But Red Sox physician Arthur Pappas, who examined Patterson, thinks the reliever likely suffered a torn ligament in his elbow that could sideline him for the season.

The Angels, who watched Butcher leave town just a few hours earlier, will wait until they return home Wednesday before summoning another pitcher. They would like to bring up veteran John Farrell, but considering that he is not on their 40-man roster, they want to evaluate their options.

“There’s always been something eerie about this place,” Patterson said. “Crazy, weird stuff always happens here. I mean, today, I throw a good forkball, and it was like somebody shot me with a gun right in my elbow.

“Things happen here that don’t make sense.

“It’s a pretty scary thing.”

How else do you explain catcher Greg Myers’ injury Saturday when he suffered torn cartilage of his left knee, a mishap that will keep him out four to six weeks.

Myers’ departure leaves the Angels with two catchers owning a total of 38 games major league experience. Chris Turner, who’s batting .103 this season, has caught 37 games. And Jorge Fabregas has caught one inning, making his major league debut Sunday.

Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi said Turner and Fabregas will be kept on the big league roster but he will attempt to acquire a veteran catcher. The team is pursuing Bob Melvin, 32, who was released during spring training by the Boston Red Sox.

How else do you explain bullpen catcher Mick Billmeyer’s broken left arm while warming up John Dopson on Saturday?

How else do you explain the Angels losing Friday night on a steal of home, losing Saturday when Red Sox outfielder Mike Greenwell’s fly ball hit the bullpen fence and bounced over for a homer, and losing Sunday when Red Sox third baseman Scott Cooper hit two homers in a game for the first time?

And, in perhaps the most bizarre development of all, how in the world do you explain the Angels sitting in first place in the American League West with an 8-11 record?

It’s the first time in baseball history a team has been three games under .500 and in first place.

“The bad news is that we got swept,” Rodgers said, “but the good news is that everybody else in this division is (awful).”

The Angels, losing their seventh one-run game of the season, can at least take pride in becoming the first team to score more than three runs off Red Sox pitcher Aaron Sele, who was making his 22nd start. The Angels overcame their 3-0 deficit by scoring four runs in the third inning, but then watched Cooper do his impersonation of the Babe. Cooper, who already has five homers this season--four shy of his high--hit a home run in the fourth inning to right field, and a homer in the sixth inning to left field.

“The first one, I really came in on, but he got it in the wind,” said Angel starter Phil Leftwich (0-3, 7.15 ERA). “The second one, (pitching coach) Chuck (Hernandez) said, ‘Look, the wind’s really blowing to right, so pitch him away. I pitch him away, he hits the ball, and the wind starts blowing to the left.

“It was crazy.”

Said Angel shortstop Gary DiSarcina, who grew up nearby: “Hey, man, it’s Fenway Park. A lot of weird things always happen here. Why should anything change now?”