BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Butcher Is Ready to Pitch in Toronto

Mike Butcher didn’t need a rake to get to the mound Thursday night, even though he had said he would gladly don a groundskeeper’s uniform to do it.

That’s how desperate the right-handed reliever was when he got to Toronto. He hadn’t pitched since July 7 and had serious doubts as to whether he was still in the Angels’ plans--and whether he would remain on their roster.

But Butcher replaced injured starter Chuck Finley to start the third inning and pitched four scoreless innings to get credit for the Angels’ 10-3 victory over the Blue Jays.

Butcher, who added a split-fingered fastball to his repertoire this week, earned victories in his first two appearances of the season, on April 28 and 30, in the SkyDome, pitching 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in each game.

He improved to 4-0 on May 12, but his earned run average swelled from 0.00 to a high of 7.71 in the next five weeks, and Manager Marcel Lachemann used him less and less.

“I found out what it means to be a professional the last few weeks,” said Butcher, who gave up two hits, struck out two and was aided by two double plays. “You never know when you’re going to pitch, but you’ve got to be ready. Today was a perfect example of me showing them I’m ready, and I’m real happy with the way things worked out.”

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The Angels have had their share of second-half swoons in recent years, but their just completed 7-1 trip marked the first time they have had a winning record on the first trip after the All-Star break since 1988.

From 1989-94, the Angels’ combined record on the first trip after the break was 16-32.

The 7-1 trip to Detroit, Cleveland and Toronto was all the more impressive in that it came against three hot teams. In their previous 10 games before facing the Angels, the Tigers, Indians and Blue Jays combined for a 22-8 record.

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The Angels, who ranked last in the American League in runs in 1994, continue to lead in that category with 466. No team has led the league in runs the year after finishing last. . . . Tony Phillips’ single in the first inning was his 1,500th hit. . . . Rex Hudler’s four hits equaled a career high, last achieved with the St. Louis Cardinals against Chicago on Aug. 8, 1990.

Triple-A pitcher Erik Bennett, replaced by Mike Harkey on the 40-man roster, was claimed on waivers Thursday by the Houston Astros. . . . The Angels’ eight victories over Toronto this season are the most since 1982, when they went 8-4 against the Blue Jays.