Anderson’s Fine Outing a Bright Spot for Angels

They knocked the rust off Brian Anderson, opened the bullpen gate, pointed him toward the mound just in case he forgot where it was and said, “Go get ‘em, big guy.”

At that point, the Angels had little to lose, down, 6-0, in the top of the first inning to the Kansas City Royals Saturday at Anaheim Stadium.

Just another horrible start as the Angels’ late-season flame out continues.

Funny thing happened on the way to a Royal rout, however. Anderson, who hadn’t pitched since Sept. 5, actually threw well, stopping Kansas City’s roll and giving the Angels a chance to rally.

Oh, they wound up losing, 7-6, but Anderson’s performance highlighted an otherwise dreary night, in a September chock full of such games.

He pitched six of the strongest innings he’s thrown since Aug. 1, giving up one run and five hits and had a career-high six strikeouts.

Anderson fared far better than starter Shawn Boskie, who gave up six runs and five hits in two-thirds of an inning.

This is the way it’s gone for the Angels, whose lead over second-place Seattle is down to a nerve-rattling three games.

Manager Marcel Lachemann went to a four-man rotation to start this home stand, inserting Boskie in the No. 4 spot and banishing Anderson to the bullpen.

Boskie’s first start is a five-hit complete-game victory over Chicago on Monday. Anderson just sits and waits. And waits. And waits.

“It was different,” said Anderson, who was 0-6 with a 10.68 earned-run average in his last seven starts. “I got an opportunity to try to keep us in the game tonight, and basically that’s the job I’ve been given.

“I’ve been a starter ever since I’ve been pitching, but that’s not my job right now. I want to hit too, but I’m not going to, so I can’t be worried about that.”

Anderson might have gone home pleased with Saturday’s results, but a seventh-inning balk that scored the Royals’ seventh, and eventual game-winning run angered him.

With runners on first and third and nobody out, Anderson appeared to have Wally Joyner picked off first base, but umpire Chuck Meriwether called a balk. Tom Goodwin trotted home.

It didn’t seem like a big deal, what with the Royals ahead by seven runs at that point. But when the Angels rallied for five runs in the eighth and one in the ninth, it carried greater weight.

“It wasn’t a balk, period,” Anderson said. “If he [Meriwether] wants to call it a balk, he’s crazy.”

It turned out to be the only blemish on Anderson’s best outing since his last victory, a 7-2 decision over Seattle on Aug. 1. He went only six innings, allowing two runs and five hits.