Butcher Impresses the New Boss : Baseball: Lachemann calls on reliever, who took loss Monday. He responds by earning save in Angels’ 3-0 victory over Kansas City.

Buck Rodgers may have been quick with the quip and always quotable, but as far as Mike Butcher is concerned, Marcel Lachemann is the great communicator.

When Lachemann took over as Angel manager, he said Joe Grahe would be his closer. But Saturday night, with Grahe having pitched in three of the last four games, Butcher was told he would be the man called on to nail down a victory if the situation arose.

About three hours later, with the bases loaded and two out in the eighth inning and the Angels clinging to a 2-0 lead, Lachemann went to the mound and signaled for Butcher. Butcher worked the count to 2-2 and thought he had struck out pinch-hitter Brian McRae on a curveball. But when he didn’t get the call, he came back to freeze McRae with an inside fastball for a called strike three.

Butcher retired the side in order in the ninth to pick up his first save since Aug. 28, 1993, as the Angels beat Kansas City, 3-0, at Anaheim Stadium.

“Butch did an excellent job,” Lachemann said. “You’ve got a .300 hitter at the plate and a base hit ties the game. It’s a big plus to have two power pitchers who can close like that.”

Butcher, who got the loss Monday night when he gave up two runs after inheriting a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning, momentarily lost his bad-boy-relief-pitcher glare when he struck out McRae.

“When I got him with the fastball I guess I showed a lot of emotion, but it’s been a long time since I felt that good,” he said. “That was a really big out for us.

“I really didn’t feel like I had my best stuff, but it’s a good feeling knowing you can get the job done without your best stuff.”

Butcher was recalled May 7 from triple-A Vancouver after rookie starter Brian Anderson suffered a broken thumb. He was optioned to the Canadians on April 24 after staggering to a 16.62 earned-run average in six games.

“I’m starting all over now and I don’t want to look back,” Butcher said. “We’re looking forward now to the future of this team. Good things will happen to this team if we keep playing like this.”

Lachemann has helped make it easier for Angel relievers to succeed, according to Butcher, because he has spelled out each players’ role.

“He has established who is going to be doing what and I think that’s a big plus for everyone in the bullpen,” he said. “If you know your role, it gives you a little more time to get ready. You can walk away from the other guys and get your thoughts together.

“Before, we kind of knew, but we weren’t as sure. I’m not saying Buck didn’t do a good job, but you just know that Lach is going to do a great job with the pitching staff.

“He just knows how to handle a pitching staff. He knows how to talk to you.”

The Angel pitchers had Rodgers talking to himself . . . not to forget voicing his complaints in public, which might have led to his firing. Lachemann is relying on happy talk right now and why not? The Angels are 3-0 since he took over as manager.

“We’re in first place now,” Butcher said, smiling, “and that’s what it’s all about.”