Magrane Starts Season With a Solid Outing

The big left-hander jogged to the mound Wednesday night, applause ringing in his ears. The 24,312 fans in Anaheim Stadium had waited a long time to welcome him back.

This could be a story about Jim Abbott, but it’s not.

The left-hander in question was Joe Magrane, who made his first major league start this season after undergoing elbow surgery Feb. 8.

Abbott’s ovation was lengthy, building as he jogged in from the visitor’s bullpen. Magrane received shorter, quieter cheers on his trip to the mound.

It shaped up as an intriguing matchup, but neither lasted past the seventh inning and late-game events overshadowed each pitcher’s performance as the game headed into the 12th inning when this edition of The Times went to press.

But Magrane earned a victory of sorts, going five solid innings, giving up four hits and two runs with two strikeouts and three walks. He wasn’t outstanding, but he wasn’t horrible either.

Magrane toiled in the minors after surgery, largely ineffective in four starts in the Angel farm system. In his last start, Saturday for triple-A Vancouver, he gave up four hits and three runs in three innings of a 13-0 loss to Phoenix.

Desperate for pitching help with Mark Langston on the disabled list after elbow surgery and Chuck Finley off to his worst start in his career, the Angels need all the assistance they can get from Magrane. Their rotation was thin last season and that’s why they signed Magrane, who had been released by the St. Louis Cardinals, as a free agent last Aug. 20.

His first Angel start was memorable only for his struggles. He lasted only 3 2/3 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers, giving up five hits and six runs with two strikeouts, four walks and two wild pitches.

Magrane finished the season strong, winning three consecutive starts, but his February surgery cast doubts about his future.

When Scott Lewis relieved Magrane to start the sixth Wednesday, the score was tied, 2-2, but Manager Buck Rodgers didn’t want to push Magrane any further. Eighty-five pitches over the course of five innings seemed to be plenty.

Magrane fared better than any Angel starter on this home stand and that certainly was a plus for Rodgers, who hasn’t gotten a victory from a starter other than Brian Anderson or Mark Leiter since April 6.

But the bottom line was that the Angels weren’t down, 8-0, 6-0 or 4-0, after only a few innings as they have been recently. After scoring twice in the third inning, they were tied.

Magrane kept the Yankees quiet after the third, retiring Mike Stanley, former Angel Luis Polonia and Mike Gallego in order in the fourth. He allowed only a one-out walk to Wade Boggs in the fifth, leaving the Angels with a chance to win.