BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Slaught Eager to Fill Role

When the Cincinnati Reds signed free agent catcher Joe Oliver last week, Don Slaught’s days as a big leaguer appeared numbered. But Slaught, 37, asked the Reds to trade him, and General Manager Jim Bowden obliged on Thursday, sending him to the Angels, a team he has a much better chance of making, for cash.

Slaught certainly didn’t hurt his chances Sunday, lining a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Angels to a 5-4 victory over Oakland in a split-squad game at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

“If they like what they see, maybe I can help this team out,” said Slaught, who will compete with Ron Tingley, Chris Turner and Todd Greene for the backup catching job. “I’ve done everything--started, platooned, come off the bench--whatever role they want me to fill I will.”

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Tim Salmon has played in an intrasquad game, an exhibition against Cal State Fullerton and three Cactus League games and already has four home runs, including a towering, three-run blast to left field off A’s pitcher Willie Adams in the fourth inning Sunday.

“This is the first time I’ve been this hot this early in spring training, but I’m not going to make much of it,” said Salmon, who hit .330 with 34 home runs and 105 RBIs last season.

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Angel starting pitchers were impressive Sunday, as Phil Leftwich, bidding for the fifth spot in the rotation, gave up only one hit in two scoreless innings at Tempe and Jim Abbott yielded no hits and struck out three in two innings against the A’s at Phoenix. . . . The game in Phoenix was called after 11 innings with the teams tied, 4-4. . . . Reserve infielder Dick Schofield returned to his Grover, Mo., home Saturday for personal reasons.