BASEBALL : Angels Add Akerfelds, Cut Randle

The replacement Angel pitching staff got a huge boost Saturday when Darrel Akerfelds, who spent a full season with the Philadelphia Phillies and parts of four others in the big leagues, crossed the union’s symbolic picket line.

Akerfelds, who refused to become a replacement player 3 1/2 weeks ago, changed his mind Friday night and pitched the first five innings of the Angels’ 10-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday in Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

The 32-year-old right-hander, who went 5-2 with a 3.77 earned-run average for the Phillies in 1990 and played last season in Taiwan, gave up one run on five hits and struck out two.

“I still think I have the ability to pitch in the big leagues, but maybe I’m being realistic,” said Akerfelds, who also played for Oakland, Cleveland and Texas.

“Being with four teams since 1991 and having not made it back to the major leagues, I thought this would be a good opportunity for me and my family. There was a lot of opposition from some friends (in the big leagues), but my wife and 4-year-old son come first.”

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John Fishel, the former Cal State Fullerton standout who spent two days of spring training in a Phoenix jail for failure to pay child support, and Lenny Randle, the 46-year-old infielder who spent 12 seasons in the major leagues, were released by the Angels.

Fishel, most valuable player of the 1984 College World Series, batted .286 with three doubles and three runs batted in but was slowed by several nagging injuries.

Randle batted .333 with five RBIs in 10 games but did not show enough defensive range and power to stick with the replacement team.