Finley Displays Offensive Skills

He won’t be Manager Marcel Lachemann’s first option when the Angels need a left-handed bat off the bench, but that was some offensive display pitcher Chuck Finley put on Friday.

Finley had two singles in three at-bats, as the Angels pounded out 18 hits in a 9-5 exhibition victory over the San Diego Padres in Peoria, Ariz. He fared pretty well on the mound, too, giving up three hits--but three earned runs--in six innings.

As for Finley’s work on the basepaths, well, let’s just say he won’t be pinch-running any time soon.

When a fourth-inning pitch squirted to the left of Padre catcher Brad Ausmus, Finley, with batter Randy Velarde waving him on, tried to advance from first to second. Finley pulled into second with no slide and was tagged out.

“I thought the pitch went back to the screen so I was kind of cruising,” Finley said.

“I knew one thing for sure, I wasn’t going to slide. The last time I did that was in the Freeway Series a few years ago and I wound up on the disabled list.”

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Closer Lee Smith’s first appearance in a regular spring training game Friday didn’t last nearly as long as his walk from the bullpen to the mound, but it solidified Lachemann’s belief Smith will be ready to start the season.

Smith, recovering from a serious knee injury, threw only seven pitches, retiring Rob Deer and Archi Cianfrocco on first-pitch ground outs and striking out Mike Sharperson on a 2-2 count.

Smith has been fielding bunts and covering first base during morning workouts but has not been tested defensively in the innings he has pitched, one Friday and one in a minor league game Wednesday.

“I haven’t had to show off my blazing speed, but [pitching coach] Chuck Hernandez has been working me hard in practice, and I haven’t had any problems,” said Smith, 38.