Cone Shows He’s No Royal Pain

David Cone continued to reinvent himself Sunday afternoon at Anaheim Stadium.

Strikeouts and turmoil defined Cone’s six-year tenure with the New York Mets.

A three-year, $18-million contract that included a record $9-million signing bonus haunted him in his first season in Kansas City.

But Cone said Sunday he’s buried his past and become a new pitcher, relying more on finesse and control instead of raw power. He’s embraced change this season and says he’s better off. Just look at the results.

Cone (8-1) pitched a one-hit shutout Sunday, defeating the Angels, 4-0, and extending two noteworthy streaks to career highs.

First, he won his eighth consecutive game and lowered his earned-run average to 2.47. Second, he extended his streak of scoreless innings to 28 consecutive.

“He was unhittable today,” Kansas City Manager Hal McRae said.

Well, almost. Chili Davis had the Angels’ only hit, muscling a 1-and-2 fastball into left field for a single in the fifth inning.

“He fought it off,” Cone later said. “It was a good pitch. (But) there was no way I was thinking no-hitter. It was the furthest thing from my mind.”

Somebody asked Cone if he felt dominant against an Angel team that was batting .282 and had won three consecutive games against the Royals.

“I wouldn’t use the word dominant,” said Cone, who threw his third career one-hitter. “I’d say aggressive. I don’t know how many times I was ahead in the count, but I’d venture it was a lot.”

He’s a pitcher now rather than just another hard thrower, picking his spots and using his head and his arm.

“I think he was pressing last year,” McRae said. “It’s only natural. He was trying to justify his salary. Now, he’s not trying to justify his salary. He’s just competing.”

Nothing seemed to trouble Cone Sunday. Not money, pressure or Angel batters.

Aside from Davis’ opposite-field single, only Gary DiSarcina and Dwight Smith hit Cone hard. DiSarcina lined out to right in the third and Smith drove center fielder Brian McRae to the warning track with a line drive in the fifth.

Everything else was a weakly hit grounder or pop fly.

“He’s a much better pitcher,” McRae said. “He’s on top of the hitters the last three games. And the guys he doesn’t strike out don’t get good swings. He’s in total control.”

Run support has played a key part in Cone’s success. Last season, the Royals averaged three runs in his starts. This season, they average more than five runs.

It was 4-0 after the top of the sixth against the Angels and Cone settled into a comfortable groove. But that didn’t mean he was satisfied.

Last year taught him failure can overrun success in a flash.

“It was a humbling year,” he said. “This year, there’s nothing I take for granted. You have to constantly prove yourself. (Others might say) ‘He’s got off to a great start, but can he keep it going?’

“You can never be satisfied.”