BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Sanderson Roughed Up but Calls It Progress

To fans in Mesa’s HoHoKam Park on Saturday, it was a rocky pitching performance. To Angel right-hander Scott Sanderson, it was progress.

Sure, Sanderson gave up four runs on five hits in two innings of the Angels’ 13-12 exhibition victory over the Chicago Cubs. But he got to cover first on a grounder, work from the stretch, back up third and home . . . all the things coaches weren’t sure he could do after back surgery in 1995.

“You never like giving up runs, but I’m really encouraged by today,” Sanderson said. “I showed I can do a lot of things, extend myself farther. Every demand I’ve put on myself, my body has responded favorably.”

Sanderson, who turns 40 on July 22, is attempting the improbable--he’s trying to win the fifth spot in the Angel rotation after missing most of last season because of a herniated disc in his lower back.

Unlike 1995, when Sanderson was a lock for the rotation and could focus on preparation, rather than results, during the exhibition season, Sanderson must show this spring he’s better than Shawn Boskie, Phil Leftwich, Jason Grimsley and Dennis Springer, the other candidates for the fifth spot.

“First and foremost I need to show Marcel [Lachemann, manager] and Chuck [Hernandez, pitching coach] I’m healthy,” said Sanderson, 1-3 with a 4.12 earned-run average in seven starts last season. “They know I know how to pitch. I’m not going to do anything that will catch people by surprise.”

After retiring the side in order in the first inning Saturday, Sanderson was roughed up in the second, giving up a homer, two doubles and two singles. But he said he felt strong, and his velocity--his fastball was clocked in the 85-mph-range--was actually better in the second inning.

“I’m not going to be throwing those Frisbees all the time,” said Sanderson, whose slow curve may not even register on the speed gun. “People have a tendency to look at me as a breaking-ball pitcher, but I can still throw a fastball.”

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Saturday’s 3-hour, 45-minute exhibition was reminiscent of those Wrigley Field specials, the teams combining for 31 hits, including seven doubles, two triples and four home runs, four errors and 20 left on base.

The Angels broke a 12-12 tie when Darin Erstad legged out an infield single in the ninth, moved to second on Jovino Carvajal’s single and scored on Orlando Palmeiro’s two-out single. Troy Percival pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.

Among Angel highlights: Tim Salmon’s three-run homer, which cleared the back wall of the bullpen in left field, homers by Jim Edmonds and Chris Pritchett, two-run singles by Rex Hudler and Palmeiro in a six-run sixth, two scoreless innings by Grimsley, and 1 1/3 hitless innings by reliever Shad Williams.

The lowlights: Mike James, who may have to assume a set-up role pending the health of Lee Smith and Bryan Harvey, gave up five runs on five hits in the sixth inning, and shortstop Gary DiSarcina committed two errors and was thrown out at third base twice, both outs ending the inning.

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Hudler suffered a bruised left elbow when he was hit by the catcher’s throw as he stole third base in the sixth inning . . . Catcher Chris Turner had two hits and scored twice, and DiSarcina had two hits and an RBI for the Angels . . . Ricky Jordan had two hits, including a home run, and two RBIs, and George Arias had two RBIs in a 9-6 loss to the Cubs in an eight-inning B game Saturday morning . . . The Angels have split-squad games against Oakland today, with Jim Abbott getting the start in Phoenix and Leftwich in Tempe.