BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Finley Awarded Opening Honor

Manager Marcel Lachemann made one relatively simple decision Thursday, naming Chuck Finley as his opening-day starter over Mark Langston, who had the honor of starting the previous three Angel openers.

A much tougher decision--which two pitchers will fill out a starting rotation that also includes Brian Anderson--still has to be made, but it appears right-handers Shawn Boskie and Scott Sanderson are the favorites.

Both made a strong push for starting jobs Thursday, Boskie giving up one run and two hits in five innings and Sanderson no runs and one hit in four innings in the Angels’ 9-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics in Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Lachemann said his final two starters will come from a pool of three candidates--Boskie, Sanderson and Mike Bielecki. Left-handers Andrew Lorraine and Joe Magrane are out of the running.

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The Angels had 12 hits Thursday, three by shortstop Gary DiSarcina and two each by J.T. Snow and Jim Edmonds. Second baseman Damion Easley had four runs batted in, including a three-run double in the fifth.

Backup first baseman Ricky Jordan’s chances of making the team took a drastic turn for the worse when an MRI test on his right shoulder revealed a tear in his rotator cuff. He will be examined by team physician Lewis Yocum this weekend.

Rob Deer and Rene Gonzales have accepted the Angels’ invitation to remain in their minor league system and reported to extended spring training at Mesa’s Gene Autry Park. They will probably report to triple-A Vancouver or double-A Midland next week.

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Union head Donald Fehr, who met with the Angels for two hours before Thursday’s game, said the union will probably decide within the next few days whether to file a grievance against the Angels on behalf of designated hitter Chili Davis.

Davis had agreed to a three-year, $11.25-million contract over the winter, but the Angels took the deal off the table and are now offering arbitration.

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Reliever Mitch Williams, out since Saturday because of a strained right quadriceps muscle, felt no discomfort while throwing off a bullpen mound Thursday. Lachemann said he will probably pitch Saturday against the San Diego Padres.