BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : Finley Gets Opening Day Call

It has been apparent for about two weeks that Manager Marcel Lachemann is setting up his rotation so Chuck Finley can start opening day, but Lachemann didn’t make it official until Wednesday, after Finley pitched six solid innings in a 6-3 victory over Oakland in the Angels’ Cactus League finale.

“I tried to add it up, but then I forgot I wasn’t very good at math,” said Finley, who will have five days’ rest before Tuesday night’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Anaheim Stadium. “It’s no big deal. After you go through the rotation one time, no one remembers who threw opening day.”

Lachemann also confirmed that rookie George Arias, who is batting .405 with 15 runs batted in this spring, has won the third-base job over veteran Tim Wallach. But Lachemann said Wallach will probably make the opening-day roster.

“It does help to have Wallach there if for some reason it doesn’t work out [with Arias], but I don’t want George to feel he’ll be hovering over his shoulder,” Lachemann said. “This is not going to be a one-day thing or a one-week thing. He’s going to get a chance to play.”

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First baseman J.T. Snow suffered a bruised right elbow when he was hit by a pitch in the second inning. He left the game, but the injury is not serious. . . . Chili Davis, struggling with a .164 average before Wednesday, had three hits and two RBIs against the Athletics. . . . Orlando Palmeiro had three hits and Mike Aldrete had two hits, as their competition for a reserve outfield spot continued.