BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Curtis Lauded for Clutch Defensive Plays

Two consecutive defensive plays by center fielder Chad Curtis in the 13th inning of Wednesday night’s 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees were among the greatest his manager and teammates have seen.

“I’ve never seen back-to-back plays like that in my life,” Manager Buck Rodgers said.

Said starting pitcher Joe Magrane: “After seeing that, you can burn that Willie Mays tape.”

Said right fielder Tim Salmon, who played alongside Curtis at Grand Canyon College: “I have never seen him make a play like that. In fact, I’ve never seen anyone make a play like that.”

It happened with one out and Don Mattingly on second base. Gerald Williams hit a drive that began sailing over Curtis’ head. Curtis ran back at nearly full speed, stuck his glove in the air, and caught it over his left shoulder. Mattingly, who was caught halfway between second and third, had no choice but to retreat to second base.

Curtis barely had time to see the replay on the scoreboard when Paul O’Neill slapped a single to center. Curtis, knowing that Mattingly would be sent home, charged the ball and threw it before somersaulting on his follow-through. The throw was perfect, and catcher Jorge Fabregas was waiting with the ball when Mattingly arrived home, tagging him out.

Curtis was mobbed by his teammates when he reached the dugout, and the crowd went into a frenzy.

“It’s been a real good week for me so far,” said Curtis, whose wife delivered a baby girl on Monday.

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Relievers Joe Grahe and Bob Patterson were the unsung heroes Wednesday, pitching 5 2/3 shutout innings. It was the first time either had appeared in a winning game for the Angels since April 15.

“I’ve never been involved in any kind of playoffs,” Grahe said, “but as much as we needed a win, that was the greatest win I’ve ever been a part of. Boy, we needed that one. It was like a playoff game for us. Hopefully, we can look back at that one and say that was the one that got us going.”

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First baseman Eduardo Perez will be kept out of the starting lineup until at least Saturday, Rodgers said, while they attempt to get him out of his hitting slump. Perez is batting .200, only .146 since April 22. Perez, who also is playing with a strained ligament in his left wrist, was replaced by Jim Edmonds. . . . Third base coach Ken Macha, who made several key decisions that proved correct Wednesday, was missing in action Thursday. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow. First base coach Bobby Knoop moved to third, and bullpen coach Max Oliveras moved to first.