Angels Subdued After Big Rally : Baseball: O.J. Simpson saga puts team in sober mood after dramatic 5-3 victory over White Sox.

The Angels barely took the time to shake hands on the field Friday, quickly retreating to the clubhouse after their dramatic 5-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park.

They turned on the TV sets, pulled up their chairs and sat in near silence.

It was as if it hardly mattered that they scored five runs in the ninth inning off closer Roberto Hernandez, capped by Chili Davis’ two-run single.

It was as if it was insignificant winning two consecutive games for the first time since May 26-27, enabling them to pull within 3 1/2 games of the first-place Texas Rangers.

Sorry, but just like the rest of the country, the Angels were mesmerized, watching the O.J. Simpson saga unfold on TV.

“It makes your day kind of depressing,” Davis said. “Winning a ballgame is great, but we’re talking about a man’s life here. I’ve always been an O.J. Simpson fan, and I still am.”

Said third baseman Spike Owen: “Baseball is very important to all of us, but a situation like this is really sad. It’s a tragedy. I was one of those guys that was hoping it was all wrong.

“You know, say it isn’t so.”

Even Manager Marcel Lachemann kept watching a small TV on the right corner of his desk while talking about his team’s comeback. He never had been introduced to Simpson, but he also attended USC, and several times said hello while passing.

“I’ll talk about the game,” Lachemann said, “but it’s tough. I mean, his life is over for all intents and purposes.”

The Angels (29-29) probably will begin to realize the significance of their comeback victory sometime today. Only once in 35 times this season have they won when trailing after eight innings. This night, they simply took advantage of Hernandez’s wildness.

The Angels, who had failed to reach third base since the first inning, began their comeback with Chad Curtis’ leadoff double against starter Wilson Alvarez. First baseman J.T. Snow and Mark Dalesandro then received back-to-back walks, loading the bases.

White Sox Manager Gene Lamont summoned Hernandez, much to the chagrin of the 33,210 fans. Although Hernandez saved 38 games last season, he had blown two save opportunities already this week.

Lachemann, well-aware of Hernandez’s problems, told his team to lay off pitches. Make him throw strikes, and let him beat himself.

Jim Edmonds immediately heeded the advice and walked on five pitches, forcing in a run. Spike Owen followed with a one-hopper toward the mound. The ball caromed off Hernandez’s glove, and everyone was safe, with Snow scoring.

Damion Easley, just activated Friday from the disabled list, made the first out with a shallow ball to right. Hernandez, however, then fell behind to Tim Salmon, and walked him, forcing in the tying run.

Hernandez, with the crowd loudly booing, followed up by yielding a two-run single to Davis. The Angels had a 5-3 lead, and Hernandez (1-3), a former Angel farmhand, was again looking for answers. It was Hernandez’s third consecutive blown save, and fourth in 11 opportunities.

“I’ve got to go back to the way I did things before all this madness,” Hernandez said.

Perhaps no one was more elated with the White Sox’s collapse than Angel starter Brian Anderson (5-1), who reaped the victory without pitching another inning. He yielded nine hits and three earned runs in eight innings while Bob Patterson obtained his first save in 11 months.

“I’ll tell you the truth, this is the best I’ve felt since college,” Anderson said. “Win or lose, my arm hasn’t felt like this since the Arizona game in college. It was nice to end this way on a bizarre night.

“I mean, when the game ended, guys said, ‘Oh yeah, nice job Andy, now let’s got watch O.J.’

“It’s the wildest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

So fascinated by the turn of events, the Angels refused to even leave the clubhouse after the game until the local newscast was complete. They walked out, hearing the words, ‘O.J. Simpson has surrendered.’

“I think we’ll celebrate this victory,” Davis said, “but now is not the time or place.”