ANGELS : Akerfelds’ New Stance Boosts Staff

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 Saturday in Municipal Stadium.

Akerfelds, a 32-year-old right-hander, was 5-2 with a 3.77 earned-run average for the Phillies in 1990 and played last season in Taiwan. He allowed one run on five hits and struck out two Saturday.

“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, a 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 Saturday.

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

Randle, who fancied himself as a stand-up comedian and singer and enlivened the Angel clubhouse, batted .333 with five RBIs in 10 games but did not show enough defensive range and power.

The Angels also reassigned five players to minor league camp--pitchers Chris Gunnett, Steve Maye, Ernie Nieves and John Thibert, and outfielder Demond Smith--to bring their roster to 36.

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Angel first baseman Tyrone Boykin hit two home runs and catcher Doug Davis had three hits, two runs and two runs batted in to lead an 18-hit attack Saturday. The Angels, who lost three in a row last weekend, have now won four in a row, outscoring opponents, 40-19, in those games.

Tom Redington, Greg Shockey and Jose Peguero each added two hits, but Peguero, who has been one of the Angels’ top players this spring, had to leave the game in the seventh after injuring his left hamstring sliding into third.

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Notes

Gene Budig, who was named American League president last Aug. 1--about two weeks before the baseball strike started on Aug. 12--was in attendance Saturday. “I had a glorious run of 12 days (as president),” Budig said. “It has been a difficult time. But I’ve got to spend a few days watching baseball here, doing what I thought I’d be doing. It has been a pleasant change.” . . . Oakland second baseman Doug Saunders, a former Esperanza High standout, Saturday was named Cactus League player of the week after batting .421 with 12 RBIs in seven games. . . . Angel center fielder Chris Powell, who has been out for two weeks because of leg and wrist injuries, started Saturday and had a single in four at-bats.